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|  Photo by Garth Guibord
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will seek
feedback from the Mountain community on three different concepts for changing
the layout of Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron through a virtual open house, available
online between Feb. 1-22 at tinyurl.com/RhodyOpenHouse.
Sandra Hikari, ODOT Major Projects Planner, noted that the
U.S. 26 Rhododendron Refinement Plan, which launched last year and included a
drop-in event last August on the Mountain, doesn’t have funding yet and they
hope to identify whether the project is feasible first.
“We’re looking at what’s the feasibility and what are the
constraints and opportunities of each of the designs,” Hikari said.
The project’s goal is to address transportation safety,
access and connectivity issues in the community, including identifying the
appropriate number of highway lanes, identifying the safest locations for
pedestrians to cross Hwy. 26, evaluating entry and exit points for destinations
and businesses, evaluating bus stop locations and other improvements, such as
sidewalks, bicycle lanes and dedicated driveways.
The concepts for the open house include a five-lane
alternative (with a pedestrian refuge island), a three-lane alternative (with a
pedestrian refuge island) and a three-lane alternative with no island, along
with a “no build” option.
Hikari added that ODOT has done some analysis that indicates
a three-lane alternative would not cause much more delay than keeping the
highway configuration as it is, but it would push congestion further to the
west.
“We’re going to see congestion in the future either way,” she
said.
Once ODOT has a preferred alternative, it would be developed
in further detail with a document on it expected to be complete by the end of
April.
Visit the online open house at tinyurl.com/RhodyOpenHouse or
use the QR code in this edition.
The community’s desire for improvements to the highway was
previously documented by the Rhody Rising committee of the Rhododendron
Community Planning Organization (CPO), which is also considering the future
development of buildings and the community.
Mike Miskowicz, CPO President, noted that the Rhody Rising
committee is currently in a holding pattern.
By Garth Guibord/MT
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| STR regulations could be addressed by county in near future posted on 02/01/2023
Last September, the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners
repealed regulations on short-term rentals (STRs) in unincorporated Clackamas
County, citing a lack of funding for the decision. But as complaints from the
Mountain community continue regarding the impact that STRs have on the area,
Commissioner Mark Shull appeared at a meeting of the Hoodland Community
Planning Organization (CPO) on Wednesday, Jan. 11 to share his thoughts.
“My personal desire is to get this issue taken care of,” he
told a crowd of 113 in attendance. “I don’t want to kick the can down the road,
I want to get things done so we can move on to bigger and better things.”
Shull, who noted he did not speak for the entire board,
described his point of view as an advocate for property rights and that
government should interfere as little as possible, but that he wanted to listen
to people in the county and advocate for the best interests of most people.
The first problem with STRs he highlighted was the reduced
housing inventory for residential use, which he could see alleviated by only
allowing owner-occupied STRs and stopping out-of-state entities from buying
property.
He noted that the problem of “party houses,” with an
excessive number of guests, could be helped by limiting the number of guests
not staying overnight to 15 (which is the current county code for a single
family dwelling), while also having parking requirements such as one off street
space per bedroom at the STR.
He also suggested an escalating fine system for violations,
culminating in a $1,000 fine, a revocation of a permit and one year of
ineligibility.
“That might sound a little tough but it's got to be that
way,” Shull said. “Some of these outside entities are making tens of thousands
of dollars per week.”
Among the other suggestions he made were fines for STRs
operating without paying the transient room tax, renters unable to use STRs for
an income-generating event such as a concert, mapping out where STRs are
located in the community, setting a requirement for STRs to be a certain
distance apart and a requirement that an STR application holder must take
timely action in the event of complaints or problems.
Dozens of attendees took the opportunity to speak at the
meeting, addressing other issues and concerns, both in opposition to STRs and
in favor of them.
Other problems raised with STRs included hot tubs repeatedly
dumped with chemicals polluting the immediate area, businesses unable to find
employees due to lack of housing, excess garbage and the wild animals attracted
to it, and the added demands on water and sewer systems.
“I feel the STRs are destroying the fabric of our
community,” said Dave Lythgoe, who serves as the CPO’s vice president, during
the public speaking period. “Our neighborhoods are becoming saturated with
STRs.”
Others shared some of the positive impacts that STRs have
had on the Mountain community, including the benefits to the local economy,
that STR properties are often well taken care of and how they provide positive
experiences for visitors to the area. Betsy LaBarge, who founded Mt. Hood
Vacation Rentals and managed properties for years before selling her business
last year, noted that one problem regarding housing is that current laws favor
tenants and many property owners don’t want to be landlords.
“It’s really hard to find what would be great renters,” she
said.
In a follow-up email to The Mountain Times, Shull noted that
the next step in the process to address these problems is for the Board of
County Commissioners to agree on draft language for regulations.
After that, outreach and public hearings would take place.
“The Board does not have definite dates for this, but the
Commissioners are in agreement that it must be done as soon as possible,” he
wrote to The Mountain Times.
Shull added in the email that he took notice of the
intensity of the community when it comes to issues with STRs, both positive and
negative.
“As a Commissioner elected by the people it is my
responsibility to be respectful of all views, but to act on behalf of the
majority so that my decisions will result in helping the most people possible,”
he wrote.
He told the audience at the CPO meeting that people can
testify in front of the county board to try and get action on regulations
sooner.
“The squeaky wheel gets the grease,” Shull said.
“Bureaucracy moves so slowly. I want to get it resolved so you can move on.”
For more information on the Clackamas County Board of County
Commissioners, including meeting agendas, visit https://www.clackamas.us/bcc.
The next meeting of the CPO will be held at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 22, at the Church on the Mountain, 68211 Hwy. 26 in Welches.
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Marcus Mendoza is expected to
speak about traffic on the Mountain.
By Garth Guibord/MT
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| Grant funding offers a new breath for HFD equipment posted on 02/01/2023
After an extensive testing and review process of leading
self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), Hoodland Fire District (HFD) has
added new SCBA’s that offer improvements in ease-of-use and ergonomics through
a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Assistance to Firefighters Grant
(AFG).
“The new SCBAs have better visibility,” HFD
Lieutenant/Paramedic Evan Jarvis said. “The mask doesn’t feel as heavy. They’re
a lot more comfortable and easier to wear.”
The fire district was awarded the FEMA grant in August 2021
for the replacement of all the district’s SCBAs. The grants are offered by FEMA
every year since 2001 to provide funding for “critically needed resources
necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and
related hazards.”
“An SCBA is worn any time we’re working in a IDOH (In Danger
of Hazard) environment,” HFD Division Chief/Fire Marshal/Paramedic Scott Kline
said.
These critical pieces of protective gear were last upgraded
in 2008 and met 2007 standards at the time. The SCBA’s are evaluated for safe
use based on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards and become
obsolete after approximately 15 years of usage.
“After 2022 (the district’s previous SCBAs) would not meet
the safety standard set forth by the NFPA,” Kline said.
The district acquired the new SCBAs, produced by the company
MSA Safety, in August and began utilizing the new protective gear in November
after a two-month training period.
The training period assured that paid and volunteer staff
would be adequately familiarized with the differences of the new equipment
before having to use them at a major fire event.
“If something happens to the new packs, we wanted to be
prepared to fix the issue,” Jarvis said.
A SCBA consists of a facemask, backpack, straps and an air
bottle. A significant change with the new units is that the voice box and
Bluetooth electronics used for communicating in the field have been shifted
from the mask to the pack, which reduces the weight and strain on the
firefighter’s head.
“The (new) pack is heavier than the old one but feels
lighter due to improved ergonomics,” Jarvis said.
The new packs also have an adjustable lumbar plate to
improve comfort for different height users.
“This is a great feature because firefighters come in all
sizes,” HFD Senior Firefighter/Paramedic Matt Nicholson said.
The air bottles are now attached by quarter-turn
quick-connect as opposed to a threaded attachment.
“This is a huge improvement that we really like,” Jarvis
said.
He added that the quick-connect will allow firefighters to
reduce the time needed to switch out the air bottles during a major fire.
The district tested three leading brands of SCBAs during the
selection process. Paid staff and volunteers drilled with the gear and then
submitted reviews based on a grading system which was then tallied to assure an
objective process.
The MSA SCBAs substantially won the grading system review
process. The packs also received positive review from neighboring fire districts
that were previously using the gear.
The grant money will enable the district to purchase 31
masks and packs, 62 refillable bottles and ten extra masks.
More information about the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters
Grant program is available online at https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters.
Hoodland Fire District can be contacted by email at
hoodland@hoodlandfire.org or online at https://www.hoodlandfire.us/.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Mountain's preschool aims for full return this fall posted on 02/01/2023
Alicia Sperr, board president of the Mt. Hood Learning
Center, noted that before the coronavirus pandemic, the program served more
than 50 kids on a daily basis, offering preschool programs for kids five and
younger, along with preschool and afterschool programs. The center even needed
to expand by adding a second room to accommodate the demand.
“It was just such a hit; everybody loved the program,” Sperr
said. “Then COVID hit and obviously that changed a lot.”
Even when the pandemic started to recede, the center held
off from opening while other aspects of the community did, including the
school. As Sperr noted, getting three- and four-year old kids to wear masks was
a challenge.
Last fall, the center, a nonprofit organization that opened
in 2014 at the Welches School, reopened with smaller enrollment, but the center
now hopes to be back to full capacity for this coming fall. Interested families
can go to an open house from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, at the school, 24901
Salmon River Road in Welches, where they can also enroll their children for the
fall.
“We’re really wanting to get the word out this year back in
full swing and open in fall,” Sperr said.
Heather Purnick, the center’s Director and Lead Preschool
Teacher, noted that there will be up to 28 spots available, with one classroom
for three-year olds to provide social and emotional growth and the other for
four- and five-year olds as they prepare for kindergarten. Preschool days last
for four hours and families can enroll for two, three or four days per week.
“Compared to most preschools, that is actually a long
session,” Purnick said.
The open house will give a chance for parents and kids to
meet the staff, visit classrooms and get an introduction to what the kids will
be learning.
“Our main way of learning in our classroom is learning
through play,” Purnick said. “It’s not just a cookie cutter type of program.
Each child has their own plan and they succeed because of that.”
Purnick has been with the center from its start, while
spending a total of 25 years in preschool education. She noted that her
teaching assistant was once one of her preschoolers, and she also enjoys seeing
her former pupils in the community, including being “bombarded by three teens
giving hugs” during a recent trip to the Thriftway.
Spots in the program are expected to fill quickly and in the
past the center has employed a lottery system for enrollment, with a waiting
list also available.
For more information, visit https://mthoodlc.com/, call
503-668-3868 or find the center on Facebook.
By Garth Guibord/MT
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| New owners at El Burro focus on family posted on 02/01/2023
After owning her own business for 20 years, Angélica Negrete
and her family know the work it takes to run an independent business.
“I grew up with eight sisters and one brother. Our parents
taught us to work very hard and whenever one of the family needs help, we would
all work together,” she said.
Carlos and Angélica Negrete recently decided to expand their
business endeavors through the purchase of El Burro Loco in Welches with the
needs of their family in mind. The Negrete’s took over ownership of the established
restaurant at the beginning of January.
The Negrete’s have an adult son, Carlos Ivan, and a
daughter, Karla. Carlos Ivan has special needs, and the family had been
searching for a business the whole family could work at together. Owning a
restaurant has also been a long-term goal for Carlos, who has more than 20
years’ experience working in the restaurant industry.
As the new owner of El Burro Loco, Carlos will be able to
put his culinary talents to work continuing to provide the quality food and
customer experience the restaurant is known for in the Mount Hood community.
Now he’ll be able to use his experience working alongside his wife and two
adult children.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have a husband who is so hard
working and talented,” Angélica said. “It’s been 29 years of wonderful cooking
in our marriage.”
The Negrete’s plan to keep the menu the same to satisfy
existing customers but add new dishes from Carlos’s personal cooking
experience.
El Burro Loco will continue operation with its existing
staff. “I’m very happy with the staff (at the restaurant),” Angélica said. “We
think they’re a really good team.”
With the new ownership, the restaurant will now be open
seven days a week from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. The Negrete’s are also doing a bit of
remodeling to the restaurant including adding new chairs and benches in the
dining area.
“We want to make sure everything is comfortable for guests
when they dine with us,” Angélica said.
The Negrete’s are excited with their new business venture
and to continue to offer an inviting restaurant for the community to enjoy.
“Everyone is welcome, especially children and the senior
community,” Angélica said. “Family is very important to us.”
The Negrete’s are planning to host an outdoor BBQ and invite
the community to join them to celebrate their new business ownership when the
weather improves in the spring.
For now, the family’s focus is working together on the
transition of taking on ownership of the business. Even Angelica’s brother
Ivan, who owns a cleaning business, Cascade Cleaning, has been helping with
deep cleaning and renovating the restaurant for its new chapter.
“My happiness doesn’t fit inside my chest to see my husband
so happy to own the restaurant,” Angélica said.
El Burro Loco is located at 67211 Hwy. 26, Welches. More information, including food and drink
menus, is available online at https://www.elburro-loco.com. The restaurant can
be contacted by phone at 503-622-6780.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Golfing is a farce at Sandy Actors Theatre posted on 02/01/2023
Ron Palmblad, director of the Sandy Actor’s Theatre’s (SAT)
February production of Ken Ludwig’s “Fox on the Fairway,” sees some similarities
between the farce and some of the television shows he enjoyed growing up,
including “I Love Lucy” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show.”
“Regular people in regular situations that react in an
irregular way,” he said.
The comedy sets members of the Quail Valley Country Club
against those from the Crouching Squirrel Golf and Racquet Club in a tournament
and culminates in a legendary 18th hole. It also hearkens back to the Marx
brothers, with mistaken identities, slamming doors and more shenanigans.
Palmblad, who has been involved in theater since the 1970s
when he was in middle school, noted that he had a couple of plays to choose
from when offered the chance to direct. He was familiar with Ludwig’s works and
selected “Fox on the Fairway,” which has proven to be even funnier than he
thought.
“Now that we’ve gotten into it and we’ve blocked the whole
show, the opportunities for so much humor are more prevalent than you realized
before,” Palmblad said. “The cast is having a good time.”
He added that getting the play up on the stage led to more
involved movement than he had anticipated.
“The amount of physicality was a surprise,” Palmblad said.
“It was there, but (the cast is) getting a workout. They’re working up a
sweat.”
SAT presents “Fox on the Fairway” from Friday, Feb. 17
through Sunday, March 12, at 17433 SE Meinig Avenue in Sandy (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, seniors and
veterans, and $13 for children (reservations are recommended). For more
information, or to make reservations call 503-936-4378, find SAT on Facebook or
visit sandyactorstheatre.com.
A preview night will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14,
with an art show, “Animal Antics” by the Wy’East Artisans Guild, before the
show at 7 p.m. Tickets for the preview will be $10 and only available at the
door.
Reader's Theatre Gresham returns in Feb.
Reader’s Theatre Gresham presents a staged reading of
“Crossing Delancey,” by Susan Sandler, at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, at the
Center of the Arts Little Theatre, 333 N. Main Avenue in Gresham. Tickets are
$9 at the door, with tickets for Mt. Hood Community College students available
at half price.
The comedy is about a young Jewish woman who seeks love in
New York City. Readings happen on the first Monday of every month.
For more information, visit www.readerstheatregresham.org or
email ReadersTheatreGresham@gmail.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
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|  Photo by Garth Guibord
Dr. Murlan Grise has many a story to tell after 39 years of
practicing family medicine on the Mountain. So many that his wife has suggested
that he write a book.
And while many of those stories might never be told due to
patient confidentiality, Dr. Grise shared one from the early years of his
practice:
One night, a patient called because his wife had chest
pains. As she was just 35 years old, Dr. Grise initially thought there wasn’t
much to worry about, but he could tell the man was concerned and so Dr. Grise
went out to pay them a visit.
He listened to the woman’s heart and it did sound
suspicious, so they went back to have an EKG done. The first part of the
reading looked like a normal heart rhythm, but the second showed a flatline.
The woman’s heart had stopped.
While the husband called 9-1-1, Dr. Grise started CPR. At
the time, the fire district didn’t have anyone on duty, so he continued CPR by
himself for 20 minutes before the first responders could make it there. In the
end, she was revived and is alive and healthy to this day.
“It all worked out wonderful,” Dr. Grise said. “That’s the
amazing part, to get her back.”
Last month, after 39 years serving countless patients from
his Mountain clinic, Dr. Grise left the practice.
“I feel so lucky and honored to be able to take care of the
people in this community for this long,” he said. “What a wonderful life I’ve
had.”
Dr. Grise arrived on the Mountain in 1983 as he was about to
start a medical residency in an emergency room (ER).
He had heard that the doctors running a satellite clinic
here didn’t want to continue, and when he came up and thought it would work for
him, he canceled the residency and started his practice.
“My goal was to make a viable family practice out of it,”
Dr. Grise said, noting it was challenging at first and he worked as an ER
doctor in addition to the practice. “I was fully vested in trying to make it
work. The ER was really good for me, in those days there was no family practice
residency.”
The first clinic was located in the Hoodland Shopping
Center, but in 1985 the clinic moved to its current location across the street
on Welches Road.
“Everything took off after that,” Dr. Grise said.
In his 39 years serving the community, he’s seen many family
members from three different generations and some from four generations.
“I feel old,” he joked. “If I got four generations of
people, that means I've been around a long time.”
Dr. Grise doesn’t call it a “retirement,” as he’s already
set up volunteer work with a clinic in St. George, Utah to help the underserved
community there.
“I think it’ll be a really good experience for me,” he said,
adding that he and his wife bought a home there. “I’m not quite ready to
retire. I still have a lot to offer.”
Dr. Grise described himself as an “active person” and that
his new home is a great place to be active, including hiking and biking, adding
that it is a “pickleball mecca.”
“Great place for that; (I) love pickleball,” he said, noting
that there will be 27 pickleball courts where he will live but that there is
still a wait to play.
Dr. Grise noted he has mixed emotions leaving, saying that
the thing he will miss most about his practice is the people.
“I just feel like they're very resilient, they’re very
conscientious, supportive people,” he said, adding that he raised his family
here. “The only thing I had to worry about was do I have enough hours in the
day to keep up.”
“It's a wonderful experience to be able to take care of
families. It's very rewarding. I will miss this place immensely.”
And as the end of Dr. Grise’s story at his Mountain clinic
draws to a close, his message to his patients is heartfelt:
“Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your health
care,” he said.
“I tell everyone of them that. They tell me that, but it’s a
two-way street. I just can’t be more thankful.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
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| Ellie McCloskey receives new heart posted on 01/01/2023
Ellie McCloskey was celebrating her eleventh birthday at a
game of miniature golf with her father, Brandon, and her grandparents in
November when they received the long-awaited call that she had an offer for a
donor heart.
On Nov 15 at around 4:20 a.m. Ellie entered surgery at the
Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital in Stanford, Calif. and successfully
received the donor heart transplant.
“The 14 hours I was waiting (during the procedure) were the
longest in my life,” Brandon said.
The McCloskey’s discovered in June that Ellie was in urgent
need for a heart transplant due to complications from Dilated Cardiomyopathy, a
heart condition Ellie was diagnosed with at age seven.
The Mount Hood family had been waiting since July in Palo
Alto, Calif. for a suitable donor heart with the appropriate size, blood type
and a similar enough antibody profile for the procedure.
When the call came in that a donor heart was finally
available Brandon said that the initial rush of relief from the news gave way
to more concern as the family rushed to prepare Ellie for the high-risk
surgical procedure.
Now the family is excited to report that at the one-month
biopsy on Dec. 16, Ellie was 100 percent grade 0 for organ rejection and does
not have a single sign of her body rejecting the heart transplant.
“It’s very hard to believe that just one month ago Ellie had
her heart replaced with a new heart and is doing so incredible,” Brandon said.
“Ellie is really getting back to herself. She can walk up and down stairs
without getting winded, she can walk all over the store, all over town really,
without having to take a break.”
Ellie still has a long road ahead before she is ready to
return home to the Mount Hood region.
She currently has weekly visits to the hospital for blood
analysis and monitoring to make sure her anti-rejection medicine is functioning
properly.
She’ll undergo additional biopsies of her heart material at
six, eight and twelve weeks after the surgery.
The McCloskey’s are anticipating the possibility of
returning home in mid-February if Ellie’s test results continue to produce the
best possible outcome with no signs of organ rejection.
Even with the best outcomes, Ellie will have a lifelong
process of testing and monitoring her new heart ahead of her.
“Ellie’s traded being a heart failure patient for being an
organ transplant patient,” Brandon said.
Brandon attributes part of the positive response thus far to
the fact that Ellie is the first Stanford pediatric patient to receive a heart
transplant using the TransMedics Organ Care System (OCS) transport system,
commonly referred to as the “heart in a box.”
The device is a portable, warm perfusion and monitoring
system designed to keep a donor heart at a human-like, metabolically active
state. The heart is kept warm and is alive and pumping prior to the surgery.
This allows for an increased transport range and has a greater than 80 percent
survival rate for patients six months after transplant.
Although the McCloskey’s are happy to report positive news
regarding the recovery process the lengthy stay in Palo Alto while maintaining
their home on the mountain continues to be a financial challenge.
The family is continuing to accept community support on
their GoFundMe page for medical expenses and the process of getting Ellie
settled back at home.
In the meantime, Ellie has been enjoying playing with remote
control cars, reading and doing arts-and-crafts while she is recovering.
Brandon reports that Ellie is really looking forward to
being able to go outside and explore without physical limitations and finally
take part in hikes and other activities she was unable to do before the transplant.
The McCloskey’s are excited to plan a tentative trip to
Yosemite by way of Crater Lake for when Ellie has recovered from the surgery
and has a stable condition that allows travel.
Continued updates will be available on the McCloskey’s
GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/690e9509.
“She’s really able to be a kid again. It’s amazing,” Brandon
said.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Govy CPO subcommittee to revisit incorporation study posted on 01/01/2023
The Government Camp Community Planning Organization (CPO)
will move forward this month with a subcommittee that will update the 2008
Incorporation Study, offering insights into the costs and benefits of a
possible incorporation effort for the community. The formation of the
subcommittee follows a survey the CPO performed last year in which 83 percent
of 41 total responses supported the effort (registered voters in the community
comprised 19 of the 41 responses).
“Everyone on the committee and the community at large is
interested in finding the information first,” said Nick Rinard, president of
the CPO board, adding that the goal is for the discussion to be guided by the
facts. “That’s what motivated the interest in an updated study. People felt it
was time to get informed again.”
The study could help answer a number of questions, such as
the possible impact on taxes, how much the assessed property value changed
since 2008, the impact on relationships with other agencies (including the
Oregon Department of Transportation and the U.S. Forest Service) and others.
Rinard added that there are no deadlines and the work will
be exploratory, and once the study is officially underway, it could conclude in
approximately six months.
He added that the scope of work will take place in two
phases, with the first working with a consultant, Ed Trompke from Jordan Ramis,
to come up with a recommendation for the community.
If that recommendation is to move ahead with an
incorporation effort, phase two would be getting it put on a ballot.
Rinard noted that there is no glaring need for
incorporation, but there are issues for the community that may be helped by it,
including policing, parking, FIREWISE efforts, traffic and the public restroom
project that the CPO is working closely on with Oregon Solutions.
“The idea of the locals having more control is attractive,
(and) how feasible, how much responsibility comes with that,” he said.
The 2008 study resulted in an incorporation effort for the
May 2010 ballot, which was defeated with 48 “no” votes to 35 “yes” votes.
Rinard, who was not the CPO president at that time, noted
there was some vocal opposition to the effort then, while he senses people are
now open minded about the possibility of exploring it again.
Rinard added that a city can provide as many or as few
services as wanted, while a physical building, such as a city hall, is not a
necessity.
The community is currently served by two local special
districts: a road district with a three-member board of directors and a
sanitary district with a five-member board.
“They’re doing a great job,” Rinard said. “They could serve
under a different structure and carry on with the same work, with protections
and possible controls of a city.”
Rinard has a list of people willing to volunteer on the
subcommittee that will update the study, but he added that the goal is to be as
diverse as possible in representing the community, including the ski areas,
full time and part time residents, plus those in the communities of Summit
Meadows and Wapinitia.
He added that anyone who is interested in participating can
contact the CPO for more information.
“The sense I get from the community is that people are
passionate about Government Camp,” Rinard said. “That’s a good citizen base to
have. We all feel united by our love for the Mountain.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Amazon warehouse PDX9 partners with fire district posted on 01/01/2023
Wintertime marks a season of giving, but also a season of
increased risk for house fires, with the National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) reporting that home fires occur more in the winter than in any other
season.
In the spirit of giving, Amazon warehouse PDX9 in Troutdale
partnered with Hoodland Fire District’s (HFD) Community Emergency Response Team
(CERT) to promote community safety in the winter months by donating one hundred
smoke alarms, including batteries, to citizens in the Mount Hood region in
December.
“I want to stress, without a smoke detector you’re more
likely to be injured or killed in a home fire,” HFD Fire Chief Jim Price said.
An NFPA report states, “Almost three out of five home fire
deaths were caused by fires in properties with no smoke alarms (41 percent) or
smoke alarms that failed to operate (16 percent).”
PDX9 delivered the smoke alarms to HFD’s main station on
Dec. 15. While there, the team from Amazon received a tour of the district’s
facilities.
Chief Price noted that the team from PDX9 made it clear they
would like to maintain the partnership and help the district with other areas
of need for the community.
“It’s a local group. It’s Amazon, but this donation is
really the Troutdale warehouse wanting to get involved in the community,” Chief
Price said.
The donation occurred after a member of the district’s CERT
team, Felecia Forston, contacted Jodi Knapp at the Amazon Warehouse (PDX9) in
Troutdale about needs for the fire district and community. Knapp was a driving
force behind the donation, connecting PDX9’s Senior Operations Manager Gary
Heath with HFD’s CERT team.
Chief Price added that the team from Amazon PDX9 have
donated over 2,068 hours of volunteer work in the region helping with projects
to make the local communities better.
“The district will be working with our CERT team to help get
these detectors out in the community, making the mountain a safer place for
all,” Chief Price said. He stated that the district can inspect and install the
smoke detectors for community members in need of assistance.
Chief Price urged community members to make sure they have
an adequate number of smoke detectors in their homes and inspect them to make
sure they operate properly.
“Smoke detectors save lives; it’s their primary purpose.
Also, a smoke detector will sense a fire before a person can smell or see a
fire, allow for an early response from firefighters and limit the extent of
fire damage,” Chief Price said.
Community members can contact HFD for information on how to
acquire the donated smoke detectors from the CERT team.
HFD can be contacted by phone at 503-622-3256, or by email
at hoodland@hoodlandfire.org. Amazon’s PDX9 warehouse can be reached by phone
at 888-892-7180.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| New event space opens in Rhododendron posted on 01/01/2023
Jan Ostram and her husband, Todd, had spent years looking
around for a building to run a business from. They finally found that location
when they came to an agreement to buy Still Creek Inn in Rhododendron.
Their timing, however, wasn’t ideal as they signed the
papers in March 2020, just as the coronavirus pandemic began.
“Every single bit of business was canceled, for I don’t even
remember how long,” Jan said.
But the pair who are also behind Busy Bee Catering got busy,
fixing and renovating the building in just about every way, from electrical to
plumbing to even cleaning out under the structure.
“It’s always something, but now, just about everything’s
been fixed,” Jan said. “It’s clean, it’s nice.”
Their new venture, Alpine Events, offers space and
facilities for business meetings, receptions, family get togethers, memorials and
more, with a name derived from the building’s former glory as the Alpine Hut.
Jan also hopes to conduct a variety of other events from the
building, including cooking classes, knitting classes, art events, pop-up
dinners, after ski events and more.
“It’s just about getting people together to gather and learn
from each other with a comfortable atmosphere and good food,” she said. “That’s
the goal.”
Next summer, the pair hope to work on the outside of the
building, including adding a patio in back.
But they also aren’t going to operate it as another
restaurant, with the focus on the events rather than set hours of service.
“It’s important to try something new,” Jan said. “We’re
excited to show it to people. We hope they like it.”
Alpine Events is located at 73365 Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron.
For more information, visit
https://www.alpineeventsmthood.com/, call 503-622-4618 or email
info@alpineeventsmthood.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| NNB's 'Evening of Radio' fundraiser posted on 01/01/2023
When radio plays were popular, broadcasts utilized a variety
of means to create sound effects, including closing the lid of a piano to
replicate a door or hitting the side of a drum for a gunshot. As Kelly Lazenby
knows, some are more challenging than others, citing the sound of breaking
glass as one of the more difficult ones.
But that won’t stop Lazenby, the Artistic Director of the
Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company (NNB), and other performers from taking the stage
and bringing to life radio plays and more for the theater’s January fundraiser,
“Live on Stage: an Evening of Radio,” on the final weekend in January.
“It’s just going to be a fun evening,” Lazenby said.
Some of the selected titles for the evening include
“Dragnet,” “The Life of Riley,” “My Favorite Husband” and something in the
superhero genre. The performance will include plenty of special effects and
musical jingles from the time when radio plays were a phenomenon.
“We don’t have the capability of breaking glass sound, but
we can pretty much recreate other things,” Lazenby said, adding that a modern
digital sound system helps with a number of other challenging sounds, such as a
car driving up.
She noted that one year the theater performed “Slurp! Goes
the Amoeba,” which featured cast members gurgling from a cup of water.
“It sounded pretty good on the microphone,” Lazenby said.
The evening will also feature live music from the era played
by Kyle Lewis.
Lazenby noted that the proceeds from the fundraiser will be
used to upgrade the restrooms at the theater’s home, the Boring Grange. She
noted that paint and new sinks are high on the priority list.
“Whatever money we have will be put towards that,” Lazenby
said.
NNB presents “Live on Stage: An Evening of Radio,” at 7:30
p.m. Friday, Jan. 27 and Saturday, Jan. 28, and a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday,
Jan. 29, at the Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in Boring. Tickets are $12.
For more information, or to make reservations, call 503-593-1295 or visit
nnbtheater.com.
There is no Readers Theatre Gresham performance for January,
the next reading will take place Monday, Feb. 6.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Photo by Garth Guibord
In a press release from 2019, the U.S. Postal Service noted
that it expected to deliver a total of 800 million packages delivered between
Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day and more than 28 million packages per day and
nearly 2.5 billion pieces of first-class mail processed and delivered during
the week of Dec. 16 that year. And while that includes an influx of greeting
cards, it perhaps misses the most important correspondence of the holiday
season: letters to Santa.
For children on the Mountain who wish to send a letter to
the Jolly Old Elf, Santa has a helper to make sure they reach him and also
allows him the time and opportunity to respond. Jami Muise, who retired from
the USPS last year and now works for the Welches Schools, took on the role last
year and even created a kid-sized mailbox at the Brightwood Post Office just
for those letters.
“I got quite a few last year,” Muise said, adding that the
new mailbox will be out right after Thanksgiving in time for those children who
can’t wait any longer to let Santa know about their holiday wishes.
Amongst those she delivered to Santa included some from kids
who couldn’t write, but drew a picture, while others that had unique requests.
One boy’s wish list included a chainsaw, fishing pole, boots and a donkey.
“That was so cute,” Muise said. “There’s so many sweet kids
that don’t even ask for a bunch of gifts. A lot of them ask for something for
their little sibling.”
She took on the role of Santa’s helper following the
retirement of Larry Hoyt, who first took on the responsibility at the Sandy
Post Office and then carried on as he went to the Eagle Creek Post office and
finally the Brightwood branch. Hoyt noted that many kids wrote to Santa and
noted how hopeful they were that they had behaved enough during the year.
Santa, he added would write back about their good hearts, while sometimes
noting how much snow fell at the North Pole or how his clothes were a little
more snug this year than in years past.
“I would still be doing it if it weren’t for Jami, she’s so
enthusiastic about it,” Hoyt said, adding that the toughest part of the job was
when letters didn’t include a return address.
Muise, who also decorates the post office for the holidays,
added that kids can drop off letters at the other post offices on the Mountain
and she will make sure Santa gets those, too.
“I just love kids so so much,” Muise said. “I hope that
we’ll get more letters (this year).”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Safety first – fire district offers tips for holiday season posted on 12/01/2022
As members of the Mountain community busy themselves
decorating and preparing to celebrate the festive time of the year, Hoodland
Fire District (HFD) Division Chief/Fire Marshal Scott Kline urged residents to
keep fire safety in mind throughout the holiday season.
“This should be a happy and exciting time of the year, but
don’t let that distract you from keeping your family and friends safe from
fire,” Kline said. “By following a few important safety tips, you can help
ensure your holidays remain happy.”
Holiday cooking, decorations, candles and Christmas trees
all contribute to an increase in house fires nationally during the holiday
months and winter according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Cooking fires, often caused by unattended stoves or
distracted behavior, are a leading cause of home fires around the holidays. A
2020 NFPA report stated that Christmas Day is the second-leading day of the
year for home cooking fires; Christmas Eve is the fifth.
“U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of
790 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding
Christmas trees, in 2015-19,” according to NFPA.org. More than two of every
five decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat
source.
Candles offer a decorative glow to the holidays but pose a
significant risk for house fires. Kline stated that Mountain residents are
urged to not leave candles unattended and make sure they are not near
combustible materials. During the month of December candles start 45 percent of
home decoration fires.
Almost three times as many candle fires occur on Christmas
Day as the daily average.
Christmas tree fires account for a smaller percentage of
holiday fires, but a dry Christmas tree can ignite and spread a fire in
minutes, causing greater damage to a structure.
A live Christmas tree burn of a dry tree conducted by the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) documented that flashover, or a
rapid spreading of fire from one surface to another because of intense heat,
can occur in less than one minute, as compared to a well-watered tree, which
burns at a much slower rate.
Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved
in almost half of home Christmas tree fires. Nearly one in five Christmas tree
fires were started by decorative lights.
HFD suggested that Mount Hood residents follow these
guidelines to assure a safe and joyful holiday:
Tree care and Decorating Tips
– Choose a fresh, healthy tree with a deep-green color and
flexible needles.
– When you get the tree home, cut off the bottom two inches
of the trunk. This creates a fresh, raw cut for the tree to soak up water.
– Water your tree daily. A tree may consume between a quart
and a gallon of water per day.
– Place the tree at least three feet away from any heat
source such as a fireplace, woodstove, heating duct or radiator.
– Use only noncombustible or flame-resistant materials to
trim a tree.
– Always unplug tree lights before leaving home or going to
bed.
– If using a woodstove or fireplace, keep it always
screened. Keep ribbons, boughs, and other decorative materials at least three
feet away.
– After the holiday season, promptly dispose of the tree and
other greenery before it dries out.
– Burning a tree in a stove or fireplace is dangerous;
proper disposal includes recycling or pick-up by a disposal service.
– Maintain your holiday lights. Inspect holiday lights each
year for frayed wires, bare spots and broken or cracked sockets.
– Do not overload electrical sockets. Do not link more than
three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe.
Candle Safety
A safe alternative is to use battery operated, flameless
candles which can look, smell and feel like real candles. However, if you
decide to use real candles, follow these safety tips:
– Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish
candles when you go to bed, leave a room or before leaving the house.
– Keep candles away from things that burn. Keep candles at
least one foot away from combustibles including clothing, curtains, upholstered
furniture, greenery and decorations.
– Always use a sturdy non-combustible (metal, glass or
ceramic) candleholder. Make sure the candleholder is big enough to catch
dripping wax.
– Place candles out of reach of small children and pets.
– Keep candles out of high traffic areas.
– Trim wicks to one-quarter inch before lighting.
– Avoid candles with items embedded in them such as twigs,
flowers or leaves. These items can ignite or even explode.
– Always use a flashlight (not a candle) for emergency
lighting.
General fire safety
– Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of
your home, outside each sleeping area and in each bedroom.
– Make a home fire escape plan and practice it with the
whole family.
– Keep escape routes clear of clutter so you can escape
quickly in case of fire.
For more information on holiday fire safety, please visit
https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Seasonal-fire-causes/Winter-holidays
and https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/holiday.html.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Senior Center on verge of two-year lease with county posted on 12/01/2022
The Hoodland Senior Center agreed to a two-year lease with
Clackamas County to remain in the building they’ve called home for ten years,
including the last six months without a lease. The new lease still needs
approval from the Clackamas County Commissioners, although it is not yet on an
upcoming agenda.
“We still don’t have much security,” said Ella Vogel, the
senior center’s director, noting that the county has the right to sell the
building during the term of the lease.
Vogel added that the center has been particularly busy in
recent years, with a number of governmental offices such as the Department of
Motor Vehicles being closed and seniors relying on the center’s computers to
get things done such as renewals of licenses and registrations or apply for
social security.
“They come here, and they still do,” she said. “(Assistant
Director) Leita (Bibler) and I did our best. What we didn’t know, we learned.”
The county also awarded a grant for $11,860 to the center to
assist low-income seniors and the disabled with home repairs and other
improvements.
Projects likely to be approved include heating/cooling
system repairs, roof repairs, snow removal, fixes to decks/steps and other
projects that enhance safety, health and livability.
There is a limit of $600 per applicant, with income limit
requirements.
Vogel noted that many seniors on the Mountain are living in
trailers, and that some have had trouble finding contractors to perform small
projects.
“Furnaces go out, toilets go out,” she said. “These are
things that we need to be able to help them with that other people can’t. We’re
trying to take care of those lower income people and whatever they need.”
The grant was secured with the help of volunteer grant
writer Brittany Kintigh. All money must be utilized by June 30, 2023.
For more information, contact the Hoodland Senior Center at
503-622-3331 or hoodlandseniors1@gmail.com. The center is located at 65000 Hwy.
26 in Welches.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Hoodland Community Thanksgiving Dinner will not return posted on 12/01/2022
For more than 30 years, the Hoodland Community Thanksgiving
Dinner offered a place for Mountain residents to come together, enjoy a meal
and celebrate together. The coronavirus pandemic led to the event being
canceled in 2020 and 2021, but now the committee behind the dinner has decided
that it will not return at all.
Mark Grove, committee chair, noted that as word has trickled
out, he’s heard from the people in the community that it will be missed.
“They’re saddened by it, everyone liked the event (but) they
understand why,” he said.
Grove, who worked on the event for 15 years in different
capacities, noted that the event began as a way to provide a meal for people
who couldn’t afford it, but it turned into something for people whose children
had grown up and they didn’t have anyone to celebrate with.
“It provided a meal and community with their neighbors; a
place to go and visit and have some good food,” he said.
Preparation for the dinner would begin a month in advance,
with donations of food and money needing to be lined up. In the days right
before the event, shopping, decorating and picking up food would be done, with
a service held the night before. Once that was over, chairs were put away and
the chopping and dicing would commence, with approximately 40 volunteers
helping with the various tasks.
“Everyone went to work, and worked late into the night,”
Grove said.
Cooking would begin as early as 4 a.m. on Thanksgiving, with
the first meals heading out for the Meals on Wheels program.
Grove noted that a typical Thanksgiving might include 27
turkeys or more, served with 100 pounds of potatoes, five gallons of gravy and
so much more, for approximately 300 attendees and 50 Meals on Wheels meals.
In an email to The Mountain Times, Grove noted that many
factors contributed to the decision, including COVID-19, while thanking those
in the community who helped make it happen every year.
“Camp Arrah Wanna graciously provided their lodge and
kitchen for the dinner most of the past 30 plus years,” Grove wrote. “Food
donations were collected from local businesses including Hoodland Thriftway,
The Resort on The Mountain (Mt. Hood Oregon Resort), US Meats, Mt. Hood Foods,
ZigZag Inn, Sandy Action Center, Mt. Hood Roasters Coffee Company, Barlow Trail
Roadhouse, Mt. Hood Lions and many more. Monetary donations were collected
through The Church on the Mountain, these included local entities like The
Hoodland Women's Club, Merit Real Estate, Clackamas County Bank, Dr. Grise at
Hoodland Adventist, Welches Mountain Building Supply, Hoodland Fire District
and scores of individual donors.”
“The committee is sad to make this decision, but proud of
the 30 plus years the event has been happening on the mountain,” he added. “It
wouldn't have been possible without the abundant and continuous support
provided by local businesses and volunteers. At the end of each event, any
excess funds were distributed to local charities that served the mountain
community.
“A huge thank you from the committee to all of the wonderful
people that supported this event.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Skyway set to celebrate the departure of the Hornors posted on 12/01/2022
Skyway Bar and Grill owners Tracie Anderson and Tom Baker
had one big question for chef Jason Hornor when they approached him to manage
the Mountain restaurant's kitchen when it reopened in 2007.
“They said, ‘Can you make BBQ?’ I said, ‘I’m from Texas,’”
Hornor recalled about his initial role creating the menu and helming the
kitchen.
Jason’s mission to “up the game,” of food on the Mountain
with unique and different takes on classics often highlighted a fun and playful
sense of humor, such as serving rabbit on Easter.
Over the past 15 years Jason and his wife, Ally, who has
worked as front-of-house manager since 2010, have helped the Skyway establish
itself as a mountain institution for distinctly Northwest BBQ with great
hospitality.
“Jason will always come up with something a little different
but awesome,” Ally said.
But as all good things must end, Jason and Ally will leave
the Mountain establishment to pursue new goals in the new year after assuring
the Skyway is in good hands with new management. A send-off celebration for the
couple will be held on New Year’s Eve.
The Hornors met through the Skyway and have been
instrumental to making the restaurant a much-loved local destination with a
reputation that extends far from Mount Hood.
“The Skyway has really been central to our lives for years.
We’ve celebrated every big moment there, from our wedding reception to our baby
showers,” Ally said. “It’s not just a job. It’s a family for us.”
The couple’s decision has been bittersweet for the community
and Skyway’s current owners, Tracie Anderson and Tom Baker, who credit the
couple with being the face and the backbone of the restaurant for years.
“They’ve helped us in so many ways build this place up. The
Hornors are fair, honest, straightforward and really fun,” Anderson said.
“They’re very well liked in the community and will be missed.”
Regulars of the Skyway will be relieved to learn that the
Hornor’s are planning to remain in the region.
“We’re calling it our retirement from the restaurant
industry,” Ally said. “With both kids in school it was obvious how little time
we have together as a family.”
The Hornors live in Rhododendron with their two school-aged
children: daughter Maizie is eight-years old and is in third grade and their
son, Jadon, is five and just began kindergarten this school year.
“Weekends, evenings and holidays are what you work in the
food service industry,” Anderson said, adding the schedule can be difficult to balance
with family-life and school-aged children.
Anderson noted the couple went above and beyond assuring the
Skyway would continue its reputation for excellence at their departure. The
Hornor’s announced their intention to leave in May and have been working to
assure a smooth transition.
Current Skyway bartender Ben Deacon will take on the role of
restaurant manager. Sous Chef Joey Parisie will take over the day-to-day
operation of the kitchen.
“We are leaving it in good hands,” Jason said. The couple
stated they wanted to feel good with where the Skyway was heading when they
left and had prioritized helping get the business through the pandemic.
“Their heart is here too. They want to see us succeed,” said
Anderson.
The Hornor’s last night will be on New Year’s Eve when the
Skyway will celebrate their time and contribution to the restaurant.
A big New Year’s Eve
party is planned with a live band and Jason’s family is flying in from Texas to
join in the celebration. Community members are invited to come share their
memories and wish the Hornor’s well.
“It’s been a great chapter in the book,” Ally said.
Skyway Bar and Grill is located at 71545 Hwy. 26 in Zigzag.
More information, including menus, is available online at
https://skywaybarandgrill.com.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Los Andes Shop opens store in Hoodland Plaza posted on 12/01/2022
Debbie Berhó and her husband have been offering a variety of
handmade textiles through popup shops and at summer events in recent years,
including up in Government Camp. As they considered a location for a potential
retail space, it became clear that the Mountain community was calling.
“We felt very welcome,” Berhó said. “We already feel like we
have some connection with a lot of the people in the Mountain.”
Last month, the Berhós opened Los Andes Shop in the Hoodland
Plaza, 68212 Hwy. 26 in Welches, offering sweaters, jackets, blankets, couch
throws, hammocks, hoodies and more that feature southwestern and western
themes. A Grand Opening celebration will be held Thursday through Sunday, Dec.
1-4, where the first five customers each day will receive a gift along with
their purchase and there will be a drawing for a $25 gift certificate for the
Hoodland Plaza merchant of the winner’s choice.
“It’s been very exciting,” Berhó said. “We’ve been thinking
about it for a few years.”
The pair began selling on the Mountain in 2019 in Government
Camp, then a popup location during the ski season in 2020-21 and at the outdoor
plaza by the Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum in the summer of 2022.
Their offerings include many textiles from the town of
Otavalo in Ecuador, such as hoodies featuring a blend of alpaca and acrylic,
making them very soft, yet washable. They have also added items featuring
Bigfoot, including trucker hats and blankets, due to popularity.
At their new retail space, Berhó anticipates increasing
their inventory of items specific to the Mountain, including a windbreaker
featuring an outline of Mount Hood, while also adding heavier wool items, such
as mittens and gloves, to combat the cold of winter.
“They’re not something you're going to find for sale at
Costco or Fred Meyer,” Berhó said.
She added that they prioritize their relationships with the
people in Ecuador who make the products and are not interested in carrying
poorly made items.
“Neither my husband nor I are interested in purchasing
something like that,” Berhó said. “We really are dedicated and committed to the
people we buy from. We know that for many of them, the orders make a difference
in feeding their families. That's important to us.”
She added that they also appreciate the relationships
they’ve made on the Mountain, including watching kids at ski camps grow up
through the years and their time with the Museum.
For more information, visit https://losandesshop.com, call
503-207-3214, email losandesshop@gmail.com or find the store on Facebook. Los
Andes Shop hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Contributed photo
Ellie McCloskey wants to be a veterinarian when she grows
up; the career has been her dream since she was three years old. Her deep
curiosity in all living creatures gave her the bravery she needed for a recent
visit to the nation’s largest reptile store, the East Bay Vivarium, where the
ten-year-old stood face to face with snakes larger than she is.
Ellie’s using that bravery as she awaits another adventure,
a heart transplant at the Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford in
Palo Alto, Calif. The Mount Hood resident was diagnosed with Dilated
Cardiomyopathy three years ago, which causes a muscle imbalance where the heart
muscle grows thin, the left ventricle becomes enlarged and can ultimately lead
to heart failure.
“Ellie’s a really happy kid. She brings a smile to
everyone’s face she meets,” said her father, Brandon McCloskey.
Now the local girl with a winning smile is unexpectedly
facing an urgent and high-risk procedure to enable her to continue with her
adventures.
When Ellie was diagnosed, her doctors informed her family
that she would need to be monitored for a heart transplant in five to seven
years. After a check-up in June, Ellie’s doctors informed her father that she
was in immediate need of a heart transplant due to an increase in pulmonary
pressure in her lungs.
The doctors gave the family less than two weeks to prepare
to go to California for monitoring and the procedure. Now Brandon and Ellie are
staying at the Ronald McDonald House with Ellie under close medical supervision
as they wait for a suitable donor heart.
The two must now wait for an undetermined period that may
stretch for months or over a year to receive a donor heart that is the
appropriate size, blood type and has a similar enough antibody profile for the
procedure.
“It’s been hard for Ellie because she feels okay,” Brandon
said.
Although Ellie is in urgent need of a transplant, her
day-to-day condition has remained stable and she is able to maintain some
normalcy in her routine.
Ellie is currently on 24-hour IV medication and is
responding well enough that the two can go on outings in the region within four
hours of the facility. Brandon has taken Ellie to explore the Oakland Zoo, and
the two have plans to visit the Monterey Aquarium and Ripley’s Believe-it-or-not
museum.
Brandon is also planning to take Ellie trick or treating in
Oakland with family friends so she can dress in her inflatable Tyrannosaurus
Rex costume.
Although the McCloske’s can find moments of enjoyment, the
family is under financial burden as well as emotional stress due to the
magnitude of the procedure and duration of their stay away from home.
Brandon has had to take a leave of absence from his job in
Sandy and must find a way to maintain his mountain home while caring for his
daughter.
Fortunately, members of the community have stepped forward
to help the family.
“The Mountain’s really pulling together for Ellie,” Brandon
said.
Mt. Hood Coffee Roasters, the Rhododendron Dairy Queen and
Fernie’s Coffee are among local businesses donating a portion of their funds
from certain events to support the McCloskeys. A GoFundMe account has been
established for community members to help support the family during their
hardship. A page has also been established on Facebook titled: “Ellie’s heart
adventure products”
(https://www.facebook.com/groups/767577611217061/?ref=share) where people can
purchase items to support the family. Friends of the family are assuring the
family dogs are cared for and their home is maintained.
Now the McCloskeys are faced with their wait and the
uncertainty ahead of them. Luckily the family recently befriended another
family, the Carpenters from Paradise, Calif., also staying at the Ronald
McDonald House. The Carpenter’s son, Zack, has become a good friend to Ellie.
He is recovering from a heart transplant and is being monitored until it is
safe for the family to return to their home.
“It’s pretty cool to see how well Zack’s doing,” Brandon
said.
Donations for the family can be directed to the GoFundMe
account at https://gofund.me/690e9509.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Rising costs could increase need for help for the holidays posted on 11/01/2022
Carol Norgard, one of the organizers of the yearly Hoodland
Community Christmas Basket Program, notes that the need for food and other
necessities on the Mountain this year may be more than ever, citing how the
increased prices of gas and food have made things challenging.
“(They’re) the two things that people need,” Norgard said.
“Their money is not getting as far.”
That’s where the baskets come in, offering help to those who
need it, including food, personal hygiene items and gifts for children up to 18
years old during the holiday season. Applications for the baskets were expected
to be available in late October and to be returned by Monday, Dec. 5.
Organizers estimated that there could be up to 150 families
applying for baskets this year.
For those who can help, donations including canned food,
hair brushes, tooth brushes, tooth paste, hand soap and shampoo, as well as age
appropriate gifts for the children are needed (giving trees at various
locations will have tags that include a child’s age and present wish). Canned
food should have an expiration date of 2023 and later.
Norgard noted that when it comes to what items are most
needed, every year is different, while the organizers typically buy a good
amount of spaghetti sauce and cereal. Two items that she enjoys giving the most
are cranberry sauce and olives.
“It’s one of those Christmassy things,” she said.
The program began in 1987 and serves approximately 400
people a year in the community, including areas from Cherryville through
Government Camp. Baskets will be available to be picked up on Friday, Dec. 16
and Saturday, Dec. 17 at the Mt. Hood Lions Club building, 24730 E. Woodsey Way
in Welches.
In addition to donations, volunteers are also needed,
included people to help organize the boxes between Wednesday, Dec. 14 and
Saturday, Dec. 17. A signup sheet for volunteer help is expected to be posted
on www.signup.com soon.
Monetary donations may also be made to: Hoodland Community
Christmas Baskets, PO Box 74, Welches 97067.
Applications can be returned to: Welches Mountain Building
Supply*, 67250 Hwy. 26; Clackamas County Bank*, 67403 Hwy. 26; Hoodland
Library, 24525 Welches Road; Welches Schools*, 24901 Salmon River Road; Smoke
on the Mountain, 23860 Arrah Wanna Blvd.; Welches Liquor Store* in the Hoodland
Shopping Center, 68254 Hwy. 26; Coffee House 26*, 67211 Hwy. 26; or Hoodland
Fire District’s main station, 69634 Hwy. 26.
* denotes locations as also have giving trees.
Dollar General, 24888 E. Salmon River Road, has a giving
tree, while the library has a giving tree for scarves, mittens and hats. Any
location that has a tree can also receive toy and food donations.
Additional barrels for food and toy donations are located at
the Brightwood Store, 63065 Brightwood Bridge Road; Govy General Store, 30521
E. Meldrum Street in Government Camp; Skyway Bar and Grill, 71545 Hwy. 26; and
Coffee Brewsters and the Hoodland Thriftway, both in the Hoodland Shopping
Center.
For more information, call Carol Norgard at 503-622-3256.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Free food market moves to new location in November posted on 11/01/2022
Every month for the past four years, Neighborhood Missions
has held a Free Food Market, offering food boxes to those who need it, in the
parking lot at the Hoodland Senior Center.
But with the center expected to finalize a new lease
agreement with Clackamas County, Neighborhood Missions needed to find a new
spot.
“We appreciate it and offer thanks that we’ve been there so
long,” said Steve Carlson, who helps facilitate the market.
The new location will be at Hoodland Lutheran Church, 59151
Hwy. 26, with the same hours as before, 9-10 a.m.
And while the market is typically held on the last Monday of
each month, the holiday season will push the market date earlier for December.
November’s will take place on Monday, Nov. 28, while December’s will be a week
early, on Monday, Dec. 19.
Carlson noted that in the past two months, the market has
served more than 80 households, including 16 new ones.
“It seems apparent that the need is increasing,” he said.
The food for the program comes from the Oregon Food Bank,
and Carlson noted that they have been able to order extra food to meet the new
demand.
He also stressed that Neighborhood Missions is able to
deliver food boxes and if there is need for additional food, they can provide
it.
Robert Boertien, Chair of the Hoodland Senior Center board
of directors, noted that the new agreement reduces the center’s control over
the back parking lot.
“The traffic generated by free food day cannot be safely
accommodated without access to the entire back lot,” Boertien wrote in an email
to The Mountain Times.
He added that the center will cooperate with Neighborhood
Missions as they strive to meet the needs in the community.
For more information or to request help, call 503-622-9213.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Mt. Hood Roasters Coffee Company celebrates 20 years posted on 11/01/2022
This month, Rick and Jiyeon Applegate will celebrate 20
years of owning and operating Mt. Hood Roasters Coffee Company – a micro
roastery based in Rhododendron offering beans, blends, beverages and more to
visitors in the area and beyond.
It’s a story that blends one of Oregon’s most prominent
pioneer family’s name, Applegate, in an area famous for the contributions of
another pioneer, Sam Barlow, utilizing equipment developed by Oregonian Mike
Sivetz, one of the most celebrated names in the air coffee roasting industry.
“We’ve always been fiercely in love with Oregon,” Rick said.
“It’s history, it’s culture and the whole culinary piece that makes Oregon so
special. Coffee, beer, wine and now spirits. To be able to participate in that
culinary endeavor is really exciting to us.
But if the timing didn’t work out just as it did, the
Applegates might be celebrating a different anniversary this year, rather than
reflecting on the past two decades on this side of Mount Hood.
Rick retired from the Army in 2001 and was looking for a
good opportunity to run a small business, and while his wife, Jiyeon, suggested
a small teriyaki restaurant, the owners of a roastery and coffee shop in
Welches were looking to sell. Despite not knowing much about coffee, the
Applegates dove in with John and Teresa Ayala, with John being the brains
behind the company’s original coffee blends and Teresa, Jiyeon and Rick leading
the day-to-day operations.
The Applegates had a vision for their new business: they
wanted Mt. Hood Roasters Coffee Company to function in a way that a winery
might, with a home, production facility and cottage where restaurateurs and
chefs could visit, stay and build relationships.
Their search for just such a perfect location took them to
Cascade Locks to see if something was suitable for their operations in the
Columbia Gorge.
“If God’s opening this door, we need to walk through it,”
Rick recalled discussing with his wife about the opportunity.
But fate intervened, as only a few days after visiting
Cascade Locks, the owner of a property in Rhododendron dropped by the
restaurant to see if the Applegates would be interested.
“We went up there and we looked and it was exactly what we
needed,” Rick said, adding that he was unsure at the time if they could afford
it. “The way things worked out, we sold the restaurant, sold our house and
bought (the property) within 30 days. Everything just fell in line.”
That was not only a key moment for their business, but their
lives, he added.
Toasting the roasting highlights
Rick reflected on the past 20 years roasting and brewing
coffee, noting a few of the many instances that stood out. One was when the
National Geographic Society put Mt. Hood Roasters Coffee Company on the
National Geographic MapGuide to the Central Cascades.
“When we fold that map out still, we see Timberline Lodge
and Mt. Hood Roasters as the two Mount Hood GeoTourism significant points of
interest. We’re really proud of that,” Rick said. “That’s the platinum
standard.”
Another was in December 2019, when actress and Oregon native
Katee Sackhoff spent several days at Mt. Hood Roasters Coffee Company for two
episodes on her YouTube channel. Sackhoff, known best for her role as
Lieutenant Kara “Starbuck” Thrace in “Battlestar Galactica” and as Bo-Katan
Kryze on both “The Mandalorian” and “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” animated
series, spent time on Mount Hood as a child and her time as a barista at Mt.
Hood Roasters Coffee Company brought out a large number of fans.
“Katie Sackhoff was a big thing,” Rick said. “We had so much
fun to be found by a celebrity like that.”
But Rick also points to a heart attack he suffered in 2013
that changed the direction of the company. He spent the next three years recovering,
and the visions of growing the company to something even bigger were gone.
“Life isn’t about trying to build a $10 million dollar
company,” Rick said, noting that his priority at the time was to reduce stress.
“That really changed the operations tempo of our business and our long-term
focus.”
That focus included more efforts into fundraising and using
the power of the company to create financial resources for other organizations
and in the community.
“I came to the realization that you can be profitable and
for profit, and benevolent at the same time,” Rick said. “They’re not mutually
exclusive ideas.”
Among the ways that Mt. Hood Roasters Coffee Company has
given back includes, helping buy playground equipment for several schools,
supporting the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol, partnering with groups and people for
fundraisers, such as raising money with Sackhoff for local Oregon schools, and
so many more.
Rick also looked to help support his employees, offering
competitive wages and encouraging them to buy homes and offering them sick time
where unused days can be exchanged for more vacation at the end of the year.
“It’s so much more manageable for us,” Rick said. “I think
it’s the right thing to do as a small company.”
Mt. Hood Roasters Coffee Company also brought in people
through Oregon’s JOBS Plus program, while also partnering with Clackamas County
on jobs programs, including one that helped juvenile offenders with internships
to get them back on their feet.
“We’ve been able successfully, with six families, to move
them out of welfare and into full employment,” Rick said.
And the charitable endeavors continue to this day, as Mt.
Hood Roasters Coffee Company and Sackhoff have paired up again for another
fundraiser to fight children’s cancer, leading to more opportunities with other
celebrities to make a difference.
Rick, who will turn 60 early next year, noted that the
long-term future of the business will lie in somebody else’s hands.
“Who’s the next generation, that’s what we’re looking for,”
he said.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Collaborated effort by community a priority for wildfire threat posted on 11/01/2022
After near misses from the Beachie, Lionshead and Riverside
wildfires and two Public Safety Power Shutdowns (PSPS) by Portland General
Electric in two years, the danger of wildfire along the Hwy. 26 corridor
between Sandy and Government Camp has gone from a vague possibility to an
urgent and annual threat to the approximately 19,000 people who call the
corridor home.
“We’ve been fortunate we haven’t had a large fire on the
Hwy. 26 corridor at this point,” Hoodland Fire District (HFD) Division Chief
Brian Henrichs said. “To keep our communities safe, the magnitude of work that
needs to be done is daunting.”
To help the multiple groups living and serving the region
along Hwy. 26 better coordinate their wildfire resilience efforts, HFD and the
Zigzag Ranger District of the Mount Hood National Forest arranged for a
national inter-agency Community Mitigation Assistance Team (CMAT) to visit and
evaluate the region’s fire mitigation efforts. The team visited the Mount Hood
communities from Oct 3. to Oct. 13.
CMATs are enlisted nationally to help resolve fire
mitigation challenges that occur in a region when multiple groups are involved.
The team’s goal for their visit to the Mount Hood region was to assist residents
and organizations along Hwy. 26 establish a wildfire partnership to coordinate
and develop long-term fire mitigation strategies using best practices.
“(The evaluation) was to help us collaborate and unify our
efforts, so we’re not all working in different directions,” Henrichs said.
CMATs are comprised of public and private wildland-urban
interface mitigation professionals from across the country and are sponsored by
the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
The CMAT met with entities along the corridor and assessed
their ongoing efforts and challenges preparing for wildfires.
The meetings included local homeowner’s associations,
community planning organizations, the three fire districts along Hwy. 26,
Portland General Electric, Portland Water Bureau, the Oregon Department of
Forestry, Skibowl, Timberline Lodge, the USFS and several other government and
community groups.
The CMAT then presented recommendations for action and
collaboration throughout the communities. The goal of the guidance is to help
address high-risk areas on the corridor and focus the use of resources on
larger projects instead of taking a scattered approach to smaller treatments.
The CMAT presented a report with advice for all
stakeholders, including short-term immediate priorities and long-term,
five-to-seven-year goals, as the corridor develops a partnership to become
wildfire adaptive.
The CMAT proposed generating momentum for the regional
partnership by achieving some small, early accomplishments, such as
establishing slash disposal sites at quarries in the region for cleared brush
and other fuel sources, getting chipping done in communities that have already
cleared brush and supporting roadside projects.
“Individual homeowners are going to have to take ownership
and start hardening their properties,” Henrichs said.
Henrich added that participants hope the partnership will
allow the region to receive grants to aid in the fire mitigation efforts.
Government Camp recently received a $75,000 grant for homeowners to harden
their properties. Similar grants can help address the expense of chipping and
contractors to clear defensible space on properties.
The CMAT urged all parties involved in the fledgling
partnership to celebrate accomplishments and coordinate resources, but to focus
on investing most of their time and resources on risk mitigation. The group
cautioned that meetings and events do not reduce the risk of wildfires, and
that clear goals should be established and met at each meeting.
The CMAT report stated that for the region the threat of
fire has become personal.
“Residents, visitors, businesses, and public service
agencies alike were without power for 8 days, with smoke in the air from a
nearby fire and no way of finding out what was going on,” read the report,
detailing the first PSPS event as a wake-up call for the region and an impetus
for the new wildfire partnership.
The CMAT report recommends that adaptation to the increased
risk of wildfire begin with personal action by hardening defensible properties
and continue outward as a coordinated effort to establish resilience throughout
the region.
More information about preparing your property for wildfire
is available online at https://www.hoodlandfire.us. More information about the
Community Mitigation Assistance Team program is available at
https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/cmat.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Fair offers community building and start to holiday shopping posted on 11/01/2022
In an effort to create an affirming event and promote
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Queer and Questioning
Two-Spirit, Intersex, Asexual and Plus people (LGBTQ2SIA+) business owners,
Identity Euphoria will host a Rainbow Saturday Artisans Fair from 9 a.m. to 2
p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 in the Rainbow Lodge at the Hull Foundation &
Learning Center, 43233 S.E. Oral Hull Road in Sandy.
“Serving smaller communities of Oregon and Washington will
help build community for queer people and provide opportunities for non-queer
people to learn about queer culture and issues,” Identity Euphoria co-founder
Charlie Joplin said.
The event will have approximately 20 vendors selling a
variety of craft and handmade items perfect for gifts. Vendors will have a
variety of items for sale, including house plants, handmade pottery,
hand-carved and burned wood crafted items, jewelry, bath bombs, artwork, home
and vehicle decor and more.
Entry to the event is free, while a raffle of donated items
to raise money for the Hull Foundation will also be held. Commemorative tote
bags will also be available for purchase, with a third of the proceeds from the
sales going to the Hull Foundation as well.
One vendor, Bright Eyes Photos: NW, will offer family
holiday photos against a fireplace backdrop for $5 each, and donate 60 percent
of the proceeds to the Hull Foundation.
There will also be a booth with local women offering
affirming mom hugs, and the Sandy group Students Advocating for Equality will
also have a table and be offering information on their causes and events.
Joplin and co-founder Brittany Allen formed Identity
Euphoria, a nonprofit corporation working to acquire 501(c)3 status, in late
2020, inspired by a lack of resources for the queer community in the smaller
towns they grew up in and in the Pacific Northwest overall.
“Identity Euphoria’s vision is to make a better future for
queer people in smaller communities and, therefore, better for the communities
as a whole,” Allen said. “Identity Euphoria is the resource I wish my hometown
had when my generation was going through grade school.”
This event aims to create a safe and empowering space for
queer small business owners to sell their wares as people begin their holiday
shopping.
Identity Euphoria’s organizers hope that rather than queue
up outside a big box store on Black Friday, people will come do some of their
holiday shopping with local, queer-owned small businesses.
“With more and more people looking for ways to be more
intentional with their spending, this event gives folks a way to not only shop
local from Oregon business owners, but support members of a marginalized
population,” Allen said.
For more information, visit Identity Euphoria’s Facebook
event page at fb.me/e/2Oxht66xk.
By Identity Euphoria/For the Mountain Times
|
| Voters look to cast ballots by Tuesday, Nov. 8 posted on 11/01/2022
The race to be the next Governor of Oregon is one of the
most competitive races on the November ballot, while Mountain voters will also
get to have their say on a number of local and area candidates.
Ballots are due by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, but mailed
ballots must be postmarked by election day and received at the election office
within seven days of the election (no postage is necessary).
Voters who need a replacement ballot must make arrangements
for pickup at the county elections office by Friday, Nov. 4.
The first election results are expected to be released
shortly after 8 p.m. on election day, while Monday, Dec. 5 is the last day for
results to be certified.
For Mountain area residents, state races include Darcy Long
or Jeff Helfrich for House District 52 and Raz Mason or Daniel G. Bonham for
State Senate District 26.
Sandy voters will decide between Walt Trandum and James Hieb
for House District 51.
Clackamas County races include Paul Savas or Libra Forde for
Clackamas County Commissioner, Position 2; Ben West or Sonya Fischer for
Clackamas County Commissioner, Position 5; and Catherine McMullen or Sherry
Hall for Clackamas County Clerk. Brian Nava is running unopposed for Clackamas
County Treasurer.
Sandy voters will also determine races including Stan
Pulliam or Kathleen Walker for Sandy Mayor and Chris Mayton or Jason J. Pruden
for Sandy City Council, Position 1. Laurie Smallwood and Carl Exner are running
unopposed for council positions 2 and 5, respectively.
Sandy voters and voters in unincorporated Clackamas County
will also vote on measures that would prohibit psilocybin-related businesses in
their respective areas.
Drop-off ballot sites
*Drive-up ballot drop access
– Clackamas County Elections*: 1710 Red Soils Ct., Oregon
City, 97045
– Boring branch of Clackamas County Bank*: 28500 SE Hwy.
212, Boring, 97009
– Hoodland Public Library: 24525 E Welches Road, Welches,
97067
– Sandy City Hall (on the back side): 39250 Pioneer Blvd.,
Sandy, 97055
– Sandy Public Library*: 38980 Proctor Blvd.,Sandy, 97055
Your voted ballot may be dropped off at any official drop
site in the state.
For more information, including an online voter's pamphlet,
a way to track your ballot, more drop box locations in Clackamas County and a
locator for drop boxes throughout the state, visit: https://sos.oregon.gov,
http://www.oregonvotes.gov/dropbox or https://www.clackamas.us/elections.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Hadley Carpenter (left).
Hadley Carpenter, head coach of the Welches Schools girls’
volleyball team, can relate to the student athletes who can’t get a serve over
the net. She was there once, in the same situation and even in the same gym, as
Carpenter began her journey in volleyball as a Welches student.
“I stayed after practice every day so mad at myself because
I couldn't get the underhand (serve) from halfway on the court,” Carpenter
said. “It’s fun to see the progression that they make and it’s interesting for
me to think back that I was the same way. I had never played before, just like
these girls.”
Carpenter, who grew up on the Mountain and attended the
Welches Schools from 2011-13, went on to play at Sandy High School, while also
playing club level volleyball. She then went to Mt. Hood Community College to
get an associate’s degree, and now works as an educational assistant at Welches
Schools.
She started coaching during the coronavirus pandemic, which
offered some challenges such as organizing carpools, no parents or fans inside
during games (games could be viewed online), only traveling close by and not
shaking hands with opponents. That led to a surprising development this year,
as the team can finally travel together by bus to their away games.
“I couldn’t figure out why the girls were so excited about
the buses on the first day when we were talking; they had to carpool the last
two years,” Carpenter said. “It’s nice to just be able to get on a bus and go.”
“It’s exciting that the parents get to come and we get to
interact with them,” she added.
This season also brings a familiar face to the sidelines,
with Becky Fortune serving as her assistant coach. That’s a turnabout for
Carpenter, as Fortune was her coach during her years on the team.
“I’m really enjoying it,” Fortune said. “It’s just so cool
to know that somebody I coached liked it enough to come back.”
Both coaches noted that they focus on the basics of the
game, while seeing the team as a great way for students on the Mountain to make
some friends and have an activity to do after school. But their efforts are
also resulting in continued enjoyment of the sport, with four Welches Schools
graduates playing on the Sandy High School team.
“I’m like a proud parent, I think,” she added. “I’m just so
glad she’s back and doing this. It’s a great connection with the girls. To come
full circle and now be sharing that again is pretty cool.”
The current program at Welches Schools features 16 girls,
including two sixth graders, on two teams, one varsity and one junior varsity.
The team typically plays one home game each week, with the season ending on
Wednesday, Oct. 19. The schedule of games can be found on the school’s website,
https://www.oregontrailschools.com/Domain/16.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Short-term rental regulations repealed by commissioners posted on 10/01/2022
The short-term rental (STR) regulations for unincorporated
Clackamas County were repealed by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) by a
vote of three to two at the Thursday, Sept. 8 meeting.
Commissioners Martha Schrader, Mark Shull and Chair Tootie
Smith voted in favor of the repeal, while Commissioners Sonya Fischer and Paul
Savas voted against the motion.
The BCC delayed implementing a registration fee to fund the
two full-time county employees needed to run the STR program since the
regulations were adopted in July 2021. As a result, Clackamas County Counsel
urged the BCC to repeal the regulations due to the fact that they are currently
unenforceable.
“County Counsel has proposed that we get this off our books
… and not give people the false sense that this code provision is in play,
because it is not if it is not funded, there’s no application fee, there’s no
enforcement mechanism, there’s no staff committed to reviewing any of the
provisions,” Clackamas County Counsel Stephen Madkour said.
“My biggest concern is that leaving it on right now without
funding just doesn’t make sense to me. We need to figure out a way to fund it.
I’d appreciate my colleagues having continued discussions about it,”
Commissioner Schrader said.
The program was initially designed to be funded by a
biannual registration fee of approximately $800-900. This fee has met with
resistance from the BCC.
The regulations were originally drafted over a three-year
process of public outreach and work by the Clackamas County Planning and Zoning
Division. Commissioner Fischer noted that the vast majority of the testimony
from the public over the course of the process describes STRs as having a
negative impact on livability in the Mount Hood communities and calls for
county regulation.
Only one member of the community gave testimony at the final
hearing.
“We have no recourse. We’re trying to get you to help us
with this. We need that help,” stated Richard Harris regarding his ongoing
issues with a neighboring STR.
“Too many people have invested a lot of time on this. The
impression would be that we’re walking away, and I just can’t support that,”
Commissioner Savas said.
County counsel stated that the regulations will remain
available and can be reassessed at a later date if the BCC agrees upon a manner
for funding the regulations.
“If the board has any desires to resurrect and implement it,
it’s well thought out, it’s well drafted, it’s a good code it just isn’t in
operation right now,” Madkour said.
Chair Smith stated that if other members of the commission
can create a set of regulations that don’t cost any money from the general
fund, she would be willing to address the issues of the community members in
the Mount Hood area impacted by unregulated STRs.
“It’s a matter of practicality. If they have a house up there
it’s their private property right to be able to rent it out,” Smith stated.
The regulations will be off the books 90 days after the
board’s vote.
More information regarding the final hearing is available
online at https://www.clackamas.us/meetings/bcc/business.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Hoodland Fire banquet honors last two years posted on 10/01/2022
After a two-year break from Hoodland Fire District’s (HFD)
annual award ceremony, the event’s organizer Division Chief Brian Henrichs
found himself with a unique problem – he needed to make sure that other members
of the planning committee didn’t discover that they were receiving awards for
their service in the past two years.
“It’s been difficult this year because I’ve got to keep the
awards secret,” Henrichs said.
Due to pandemic social distancing restrictions, the HFD
personnel have not had the opportunity since 2019 to celebrate the hard work
and dedication of the district’s finest.
Members of all parts of the HFD, including career staff,
volunteers, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members and the support
group gathered on Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Mt. Hood Lions Club for the return
of the annual awards banquet and picnic. The event was an opportunity for the
district to catch up on missed commendations.
“We had a lot of people to recognize,” Henrichs said.
The Rookie of the
Year awards were given to Brandon Bergeron for 2020 and Kiera McPherson for
2021 to recognize their work exemplifying the values of the district.
The Firefighter of the Year award recipients were chosen by
community members in the district. Community members voted through an online
SurveyMonkey poll. Matt Nicholson received the award for 2020 and Dawson Kooch
for 2021.
Dawson Kooch also took home the Chief’s Award for 2020 for
his work managing the new Government Camp station.
“I've put a lot of time in. It's been a great four and a
half years,” Kooch said. “I've been motivated to help make the place better and
it's great to be recognized.”
“He really took the reins, and there wasn’t a project or
task that he couldn’t take on,” Henrichs said. “I couldn’t be prouder of him.”
Division Chief/Fire Marshal Scott Kline received the Chief’s
Award for 2021 for his tireless work seeking out grants for the district. HFD
received approximately $300,000 in funding in recent years due to Kline’s
efforts.
“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without him,” Henrichs
said.
District volunteer firefighter Amanda Schmitt also received
multiple awards, including a Meritorious Service Award for her “unwavering
commitment to all aspects of the fire service.”
Portland General Electric received the second Meritorious
Service Award for their strategic public safety power shut-off in the Mount
Hood area during the unprecedented high winds that caused devastating fires
throughout the state in early September 2020.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that shutting off power saved
the community significant loss and devastation,” Henrichs said. “We had
inactive power lines go down on Kiwanis Camp Road during the wind event. If a
fire had started there, we would have been unable to stop it.”
Unit Citations, a formal, honorary mention of a uniformed
services’ specific and outstanding performance, were awarded to the TIPS NW
Hoodland Chapter and the Hoodland Fire Cadet Program for 2020.
Engine 351, Rescue 351 and C351 received a citation for a
multi-patient motor vehicle accident that involved three patients being pinned
on the scene and requiring extrication in 2021.
Also in 2021, Engine 351 and C352 received a citation for
managing multiple calls including the successful delivery of twins at home.
Additional awards given to staff and volunteers for
exemplary service include:
EMT of the year
- 2020 – Amanda Schmitt
- 2021 – Anthony LeFevour
CERT Member of the year
- 2020 – Felecia Forston
- 2021 – Sue Allen
Support Group Member of the year
- 2020 – Dan and Nancy Wolf
- 2021 – Dale Crotty
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Hoodland Library deals with vandalism, GoFundMe efforts underway posted on 10/01/2022
Lara Wilent, Library Clerk for the Hoodland Public Library,
noted that nobody is really certain when the wooden sign that has hung above
the library entrance disappeared. It wasn’t until somebody came in and noted
how challenging it was to find the library due to the lack of signage.
“We can’t imagine why somebody took the sign,” Wilent said.
“It’s a big, heavy wooden sign. It’s not like its metal and recyclable.”
The sign was made locally when the library moved to its
current location in 2014, at a cost of approximately $500 at the time. Wilent
noted that they expect that cost to double as they look to replace it now.
And that’s not the only act of vandalism targeting the
library, as the drop box for patrons to return items after hours was hit last
November, rendering it unusable since. A new drop box could cost as much as
$1,500, but the library doesn’t have the funds to replace it or the sign.
Wilent noted that the library will add a slot into the front
door to allow for returns after hours, although due to supply chain issues,
there have been delays.
In the meantime, the library has not been charging overdue
fines due to lack of ability for people to get books and other materials back.
In an effort to raise money to replace the drop box and the
sign, people can donate at https://gofund.me/4fd217fa, or drop off donations at
the library, 24525 Welches Road or mailed to the Friends of Hoodland Library at
P.O. Box 298 Welches, OR 97067.
Wilent added that the sign will be remade by the same
Mountain craftsman that made the first one.
“It’s good to know that sign was made and is being remade by
a local person,” she said.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Mt. Hood Unida continues building community posted on 10/01/2022
When it comes to favorite holidays, Dia de los Muertos is
right up there for Cristina Saldivar, Vice President of Mt. Hood Unida, a local
nonprofit organization with a mission to unite community and empower Latinos.
“It is a day that we, in Mexico and almost all Latin
American countries, remember those that we have lost,” Saldivar said. “Every
country, every community, every town does that a little bit differently.”
Mt. Hood Unida will offer the Mountain community a chance to
celebrate and remember from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Wildwood
Recreation Area, 65670 Hwy. 26 in Welches, for its Dia de los Muertos
celebration. There is no admission fee for the event and refreshments will be
provided.
The group held the event for the first time last year, and
Saldivar noted that the community altar, where people can place photos or
mementos of lost loved ones, will be back.
“A community and its members need a space to grieve,” she
said, noting the event also offers a way to celebrate memories of loved ones. “You
can really feel the collective grief and the collective joy. I think that’s
what’s really special.”
The event will also feature live music by a mariachi band
and artwork created by Welches Middle School students as part of Mt. Hood
Unida’s Una Voz program, where students meet every Wednesday after school to
celebrate the history, culture and contributions of the Latinx community on the
Mountain.
“We are getting a lot of positive feedback,” said Maria
Burke, Mt. Hood Unida President, who noted her daughter relayed how much
students are enjoying it. “We’ve had so much fun doing the project and the kids
are loving it.”
The program received grant funding from the Dr. Martens
Foundation and both Saldivar and Burke, sisters who grew up on the Mountain and
attended Welches Schools, hope to find more grant opportunities to do more
after school programs.
“I would have loved something like this when I went to
Welches,” Burke said.
The organization also wants to build on its relationship
with the community by partnering with other agencies to provide services,
including medical, dental and mental health needs, for the Latinx community on
the Mountain.
“Now that Mt. Hood Unida established a connection with the
mountain community, we, at Mt. Hood Unida, are excited to find ways to serve
its Latino population,” Saldivar said. “Mt. Hood Unida is aware of the unmet
medical, dental and mental health needs within the population. We are very
passionate about establishing partnerships with agencies to meet those needs.
We know when these basic needs are met, the whole community will thrive.”
For more information on Mt. Hood Unida programs and to find
how to get involved, visit https://www.mthoodunida.org/ and find the
organization on Facebook and Instagram.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| This is Halloween! Spooky Alley returns back to its usual haunt posted on 10/01/2022
Shirley Dueber, one of the organizers of the annual Spooky
Alley Halloween event, noted that while last two year’s iterations were a
success, the fact that they had to be drive-thru events meant it wasn’t quite
the same.
“It was fun, but not nearly as much fun as when we can watch
the kids playing games,” Dueber said.
This year, Spooky Alley brings back the fun and games as it
returns to its usual haunt, the Hoodland Park Plaza, 68200 Hwy. 26 in Welches,
from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31.
Dueber noted that among the popular games returning are a
hole-in-one golf game and a guessing game where contestants can try to figure
out how many candies are in a bowl, with the winner taking home all the candy.
“In that game, no adult has ever won. It’s amazing,” Dueber
said, adding that the game has been part of the event for nearly 20 years and more
often than not parents will think their kids’ guesses will be ridiculous.
The annual event also offers costume judging, with different
times for different ages of kids: children up to three years old will be at
6:45 p.m., children ages four to seven at 7 p.m., children ages eight to 12 at
7:15 p.m., children 13 and older at 7:30 p.m. and a grand prize ceremony at
7:45 p.m.
Dueber also noted that the event needs support, both with
donations and volunteers.
Much of the work is done before the event actually happens,
with up to 20 people working different shifts on the days immediately before.
Another 20 people typically facilitate the games on the night of the event,
while there may be up to eight volunteers needed for the food room.
Anyone interested in volunteering or supporting the event
can contact Dueber at 503-349-6879.
And even though Dueber has spent many years making Halloween
a fun and enjoyable night for the Mountain community, she still hasn’t lost her
passion for the event.
“I’m getting excited about the fact that we’re going to have
a normal Spooky Alley,” she said. “I’ll probably be more excited than the
kids.”
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Readers Theatre Gresham returns anew posted on 10/01/2022
Michael Streeter, Readers Theatre Gresham’s (RTG) Artistic
Director, wants to grow the audience for the monthly staged readings, with
actors reading a play with scripts in hand on a bare stage and minimal props.
And with RTG returning after a two-year hiatus due the coronavirus, there are a
number of changes taking place to help achieve that goal, including a new space
(the Center of the Arts Little Theatre at 333 N. Main Avenue in Gresham),
serving beer and wine, a new sponsor (Center for the Arts Foundation) and a new
approach to selecting plays.
Streeter noted that previously, RTG focused on the American
classics, including Neil Simon for comedies and dramatic playwrights such as
Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams. And while this season does offer some
greats of American drama, the offerings will include other classics from throughout
the world, including William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” Martin McDonagh’s “The
Beauty Queen of Leenane” and Augusta, Lady Gregory, and W.B. Yeats’ “Cathleen
ni Houlihan.”
“The overarching theme for me when selecting a season, do we
have quality plays that directors are passionate about doing,” Streeter said.
“That usually turns out to be top quality material. I like to lean toward
Pulitzer Prize nominees and winners.”
To lead off the season on Monday, Oct. 3, RTG will offer
“Macbeth,” the tragedy about a Scottish general who is spurred to kill the King
of Scotland to take the throne himself and is then consumed by paranoia and
must kill more people to protect himself. Streeter will direct the reading and
play the titular role, and the play has a special place in his heart as he met
his wife in a production of “Macbeth” decades ago when he was an actor and she
was a makeup artist.
“It’s a show that I’ve been passionate about for over 30
years,” Streeter said, adding that this reading will feature just six actors
who will all play multiple roles.
Streeter also sees the new location as a boon to the
theater, as there is ample and convenient parking, plus theater patrons can
easily go out for dinner at a nearby restaurant and also get a show in.
“There’s a lot of pent-up demand,” Streeter said.
RTG’s readings will happen on the first Monday of every
month, starting with “Macbeth” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3. Tickets are $9 at
the door, with tickets for Mt. Hood Community College students available at
half price. For more information, visit www.readerstheatregresham.org or email
ReadersTheatreGresham@gmail.com.
2022-23 Readers Theatre Gresham season
- Oct. 3: “Macbeth,” by William Shakespeare.
- Nov. 7: “The Last Night of Ballyhoo,” by Alfred Uhry.
- Dec. 5: “The Dock Brief,” by John Mortimer.
- Feb. 6, 2023: “Crossing Delancey,” by Susan Sandler.
- March 6, 2023: “The Beauty Queen of Leenane,” by Martin
McDonagh.
- April 3, 2023: “Cathleen ni Houlihan,” by Augusta, Lady
Gregory, and W.B. Yeats.
- May 1, 2023: “‘Night Mother,” by Marsha Norman.
- June 5, 2023: “I Never Sang for My Father,” by Robert
Anderson.
Three productions end in early October
Clackamas Repertory Theatre presents the comedy, “The Book
Club Play,” through Sunday, Oct. 2, 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 $30-40. For more information, visit
clackamasrep.org or call 503-594-6047.
Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company presents “Hello Dolly!” through
Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in Boring. Show
times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are
$18 for adults and $15 for children and seniors, and $13 for law enforcement.
For more information, or to make reservations, call 503-593-1295 or visit
nnbtheater.com.
Sandy Actors Theatre presents “Rumors” through Sunday, Oct.
16, at 17433 SE Meinig Avenue in Sandy (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, $13 for children and $15 for seniors, first responders,
students and veterans (reservations are recommended). For more information, or
to make reservations call 503-936-4378 or visit https://sandyactorstheatre.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Contributed photo
For anyone looking to understand how pioneers made cider
with antique, hand-cranked presses and sample the results, the Philip Foster
Farm Historic Site has an event to quench that desire – the 2022 Philip Foster
Cider Squeeze. The annual cider squeeze celebrates the late summer harvest and
showcases the spirit of the early settler families and the life and time in
which they lived.
“It’s a big party,” said Jennifer Goldman, programming
director at Philip Foster Farm. “Families are invited to experience life as a
pioneer.”
Guests are invited to bring their own apples and enjoy the
satisfaction of making apple cider the old-fashioned way using the hand-cranked
cider presses. The event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. at the historic farm, located at 22725 SE Eagle Creek Road in Eagle Creek.
“The event started with early members of the Home Orchid
Society getting together, making cider and selling it,” Goldman said. “It was
the original fundraiser to raise money to open the historic farm site.”
The cider squeeze has been held annually since the Philip
Foster Farm historic site opened in 1993. Guests can also buy cider already
prepared and packaged on site.
The cider presses used at the squeeze were originally built
between 1900 and the 1940s. They were donated to the farm by families in the
Mount Hood region and restored for modern use.
Families are asked to limit the amount of apples squeezed at
the event to two gallons to allow time for others to make use of the cider
presses. A bulk squeeze will be held the following day, Sunday, Sept. 18, from
2-6 p.m. for the production of an unlimited amount of apple cider.
“At the bulk squeeze people can use one old press from 1910
that is enormous,” Goldman said.
In addition, the event will feature live music, folk
dancing, kid's games and tours of the grounds, including a tour of an 1860s
barn with a corn-grinding station and the opportunity to use a cross-cut saw.
There will be various food vendors on site and reenactors in historical
costumes to explain about the history of the region and give people a hands-on
experience.
Admission to the event is $5 for individuals and $20 for
families. Admission is free for Jacknife-Zion-Horseheaven Historical Society
members, including volunteers who have worked at least 10 hours at the farm
this year.
The costs for participating in the cider squeeze include:
– Press cider from your own apples: $3.00 per gallon
– Press cider from provided apples: $6.00 per gallon
– Use provided jugs: $1.00 each (jugs hold 1 gallon of
cider)
– Pre-pressed, pasteurized cider: $7 per gallon.
Parking for the event is available at both parking lots at
the farm. Guests attending the bulk squeeze are invited to park in the lot on
Eagle Creek Road.
More information regarding the event is available online at
https://philipfosterfarm.com/farm-events/cider-squeeze/.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Welches Schools return to normalcy posted on 09/01/2022
Just one year ago, Welches Schools Principal Kendra Payne
had to plan for a school year with a great deal of uncertainty, not knowing how
in-person classes would pan out and what kinds of restrictions might happen or
not due to coronavirus. This year, however, the focus of Payne and her staff is
on how best to educate their students, rather than a pandemic.
“It’s just so nice to be able to plan and not have to worry
about those things,” Payne said.
The first day for Welches Schools will be Tuesday, Sept. 6,
doors opening at 8:50 a.m. and class starting at 9:05 a.m., while dismissal
will be at 3:55 p.m.
Wednesdays during the school year, except for the first
Wednesday (Sept. 7), will be an early dismissal at 2:55 p.m.
Payne noted that events canceled during the past two years
will return this year, including the Rainbow Run, the Harvest Festival, monthly
awards assemblies and an open house that will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday,
Sept. 1. The open house will offer a chance for students and families to meet
teachers, see classrooms, sign up for activities like volleyball, get middle
school locker assignments, learn about volunteer opportunities and more.
Payne added that the middle school students will continue
the new electives model this year, which includes high interest offerings such
as art, music, creative science, leadership and more. Previously, the school
used an intervention model for electives, which meant students who were below
grade level received academic support instead of electives.
Meanwhile, the Welches Parent Teacher Community Organization
(WPTCO) will get a chance to regain momentum lost from the pandemic. Payne
noted that a number of established parents from the organization no longer have
children at the school and parents of younger students are needed to help
rebuild its membership, as well as establish a new vision and priorities.
Payne added that the pandemic’s impact on the support that
the WPTCO has offered the schools in the past was evident.
“We’ve felt it in all the small ways: teacher appreciation,
back to school events, fun nights and (other) events,” she said. “We’re ready
to get them back again.”
Payne also noted that the school building will be open to
volunteers this year. Volunteers will need to fill out an application, go
through a background check, attend an orientation session and either be
vaccinated or have an exemption form.
The Welches Schools is located at 24901 E. Salmon River Road
in Welches and can be reached at 503-622-3166. For more information, please
visit https://www.oregontrailschools.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Contributed photo
Aaron Marshall was born and raised in Madras and was a star
quarterback in high school who attended the College of the Siskiyous in Weed,
Calif. on a football scholarship. After a career-ending injury, Marshall was
encouraged to be a different kind of hero by his uncle, who served as the
Assistant-Chief/Fire Marshal for the Bend Fire Department from 1995 until his
retirement in 2012.
Marshall chose to follow his uncle’s path and pursue a
career as a firefighter and last month, the Hoodland Fire District (HFD)
announced that he joined the district staff as a career firefighter/paramedic.
“So far the community has been really great,” Marshall said.
“It’s beautiful on this side of the mountain and it seems the district has
built a great organization.”
The addition returns the career staffing for the district
after a vacancy was created with the departure of Lieutenant Andrew Figini at the
end of April.
“By adding Aaron to our staff we’re still able to respond
out of our station with two firefighter/ paramedics,” HFD Division Chief/Fire
Marshal Scott Kline said.
Marshall will be joining HFD from the Jefferson County Fire
District (JCFD) where he served as a firefighter/paramedic for the past year.
He began his career as a student volunteer at JCFD where he
received his firefighter 1 and paramedic certification and worked for three
years in a student volunteer firefighter position. After graduating from
college Marshall began working full time at Warm Springs Fire and Safety as a
career firefighter/paramedic from 2018 to 2021 before returning to JCFD for a
year.
Marshall will begin his service in the HFD with a training
period to familiarize him with the district’s procedures and standards during
the month of September. New career staff are certified on all the district’s
emergency response vehicles and also driven around the district to familiarize
them with the roads before responding to emergency calls.
“It’s the little things that are slightly different,” Marshall
said, citing different protocols for EMS and standard operations as things that
vary from district to district.
Marshall will be fully trained and on shift by the beginning
of October.
Marshall currently resides in Madras. Outside of work
Marshall enjoys outdoor activities, playing or coaching sports, rollerblading,
reading and hanging out with friends and family.
“I’m excited to begin here and hopefully have a long career
in the district,” said Marshall.
More information about HFD is available online at
https://www.hoodlandfire.us.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Grant program to help businesses recover posted on 09/01/2022
While some aspects of life have returned to normal following
the coronavirus pandemic, area businesses are still hurting from COVD-19’s
impact, be it from lost revenue, higher prices from inflation or in other ways.
This month, many of them have the opportunity to mitigate that financial hardship.
The Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce (SAC), along with the
North Clackamas Chamber of Commerce, have established the North Clackamas/Sandy
Small Business Recovery Grant program, offering small businesses of 50 or fewer
full-time employees a chance to receive assistance payments.
“Our whole team feels really great being able to do this,”
said Khrys Jones, Executive Director of the SAC, noting that State Senator
Chuck Thomsen played a key role in making it happen. “We still hear they need
money. We’re really starting to hear not that the cost of everything is going
up. Inflation is hitting them hard.”
The program will assist businesses that lost revenue due to
mandatory or voluntary closures or other losses related to the pandemic (such
as supply-chain issues, hiring and retention of employees and more), and
generally defined as those losses having been incurred from January 2020
forward. Impacted businesses will be required to show proof of losses incurred
related to the pandemic.
An open-application period will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday,
Sept. 7 and end at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, with a review period lasting
until Friday, Sept. 23 and notifications sent at the end of the month.
Approximately $850,000 will be distributed in amounts up to $10,000.
Businesses must be for-profit for the program, as other
types of businesses such as non-profits, school districts, financial
institutions, pawn shops, liquor stores, gas stations, firearms dealers, places
of worship and more are ineligible.
Jones added that the chamber is still offering services
through the Business Recovery Center, including help with taxes, marketing and
more, which is expected to run through May 2024. She also noted that even after
the grant funding is used for the grant recovery program, they want to find
more funding for future grants.
“We’re hoping this isn’t the last round,” Jones said.
For more information, including a full list of restrictions
and requirements, and to apply for a grant, visit
https://sandyoregonchamber.org.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Futures of STRs, HD 52 rep to be debated posted on 09/01/2022
The Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) are
expected to hold a final public hearing of the repeal of county regulations for
Short Term Rentals (STRs) in the unincorporated areas of the county during
September. The hearing was initially scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 8 during a
meeting in June, but the county could not confirm this as an agenda item as of
Monday, Aug. 29.
15 community members from the Mountain community spoke at
the June meeting, and public comments are expected to be received during a
potential September meeting. The commissioners were expected to hold policy
sessions this summer in an attempt to draft an alternative program before the
September meeting.
For agendas on upcoming BCC meetings, visit
https://www.clackamas.us/bcc. More information about STRs is available online
at https://www.clackamas.us/planning/str.
The BCC will also hold a joint session on Wednesday, Sept. 7
with commissioners from Hood River and Multnomah Counties following the
resignation of State Rep. Anna Williams to interview candidates and select a
replacement for the open House District 52 position. Oregon law requires that a
legislative vacancy be filled by county commissioners representing the district
in which the vacancy exists. House District 52 spreads across parts of the
three counties.
Finalists were selected by the local Democratic Party (as
outlined by state law), since Williams belongs to that party. County
commissioners have no involvement in the selection of finalists. The three finalists are: Kristen Dillon, Lori
Kuechler and Nicholas Walden Poublon.
The person selected will fill the remainder of Williams’
term, which runs through December of this year.
The meeting will be held from 3-5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept.
7, over Zoom. The public is welcome to virtually attend the proceedings over
Zoom and provide comments during the designated time. Connectivity information can be found at
https://www.clackamas.us/meetings/bcc/other/2022-09-07. The meeting will be posted later to the
county’s YouTube channel and the Clackamas County Government Channel.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Sandy Cruisin' Car Show returns on Sept. 10 posted on 09/01/2022
Cliff Mudder has brought his 1934 Ford three-window coupe to
the Sandy Cruisin’ Car Show since 2011, when he first entered while it was
still under construction. Last year, Mudder took home Best of Show and the Best
of 1930s awards, and he’s hoping to return this year to defend those titles.
“I still love getting the car out,” Mudder said, noting when
he first bought it the car was in a box and he had to put it together. “We’ve
always got a lot of compliments.”
This year’s Sandy Cruisin’ Car Show will take place on
Saturday, Sept. 10, opening at 8 a.m. for check-in and 9 a.m. for the general
public, on the grounds of the St. Michael Catholic Church, 18090 SE Langensand
Road in Sandy.
Organizer Anne Chambers noted that this will be the 24th
year for the event (which was not held in 2020 due to the pandemic), and that
it originated as part of the Sandy Oktoberfest.
The event features raffles all day long, music, food and
more, with trophies in more than 20 classes of cars awarded at 2:30 p.m. Cars
must be checked in by noon to be eligible for awards, while ballots must be
returned by 12:30 p.m. There is a $15 registration fee for the first class of
car and each additional class is $10.
Chambers reported that when the event returned last year
after a one-year hiatus, it turned out to be the biggest one yet, with more
than 240 cars taking part.
“I think everybody really missed getting out,” she said,
noting that as many as 200 cars could be expected this year.
Chambers added that the money raised will be used locally,
including St. Vincent de Paul programs that support those in need.
And while the cars draw the crowds, Mudder noted that what
he enjoys most about these events is meeting new people and connecting with
friends.
“We have met so many people, they’re closer to me than my
brothers,” he said. “When you’re not there, you’re missed.”
For more information on the event, find the Sandy Cruisin’
Car Show on Facebook or visit http://www.sandycarshow.org.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Contributed photo
When Clackamas Repertory Theatre (CRT) selects plays for a
season, David Smith-English noted they go through numerous scripts before
finding one that piques their interest. Smith-English will direct one of those,
“The Book Club Play,” by Karen Zacarías, opening this month, although it took
him a couple times reading the script, which centers on a book club, before
really envisioning it.
“I first read it, (it’s got) just six characters talking
about books; you can’t have a play with no action,” Smith-English said. “The
more I read it, the more I realized it’s right there, all this wonderful action
is going on.”
The comedy, a newer play that CRT intended to do three years
ago before the pandemic thwarted those plans, offers the story of a devoted
book club that becomes the subject of a documentary filmmaker’s efforts. The
club’s intimate discussions, along with the literature and a provocative new
member, are all captured on film.
“Some interesting things happen when people forget there’s a
camera on them,” Smith-English said. “It’s really fun. It’s just a really
enjoyable experience with a fabulous cast.”
CRT presents the comedy, “The Book Club Play,” from
Thursday, Sept. 8 through Sunday, Oct. 2, 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 $30-40. For more information, visit
clackamasrep.org or call 503-594-6047.
CRT will also offer an evening of music, featuring the music
and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim performed by Susannah Mars and Merideth Kaye
Clark, for one night only at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21. Tickets are $20 and
sold at the door.
Classic musical in Boring
The names of the women who have tackled the role of Dolly
Gallagher-Levi in the renown musical “Hello Dolly!,” book by Michael Stewart,
music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and based on the play “The Matchmaker” by
Thornton Wilder, include some A-list celebrities: Carol Channing, Ethel Merman,
Pearl Bailey, Mary Martin, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler and Bernadette Peters
among them.
For the Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company’s (NNB) production,
veteran performer and NNB’s Artistic Director Kelly Lazenby will take on part
with her husband, Justin, directing.
“It’s a ‘bucket list’ part for her,” Justin said.
The story focuses on Dolly, a turn-of-the-century matchmaker
who decides that the next match she needs to make is to find someone for
herself. The show includes many well-known songs in the musical theater cannon,
including “It Only Takes a Moment,” “Put on Your Sunday Clothes” and the title
number, “Hello, Dolly!”
In taking on such a popular show, Justin noted that he hopes
to solidly hit the things that audience members will already know, including
those songs, while also making the story their own.
“I like to tell the story without distraction,” he said,
adding that there is a “delightful familiarity” with the show.
Justin added that while the show offers challenges,
including mounting a production with such a large cast in a space that has its
limitations, he enjoys how positive the story is.
“Even the grumpiness of the main guy is all tongue in cheek,
it’s all fun,” he said. “This one is just meant to be an uplifting story of
love and relationships.”
Justin added that many reservations have already been made
for the show, so audience members are encouraged to buy tickets as soon as they
can.
NNB presents “Hello Dolly!” from Friday, Sept. 23 through
Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in Boring. Show
times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are
$18 for adults and $15 for children and seniors, and $13 for law enforcement.
For more information, or to make reservations, call 503-593-1295 or visit nnbtheater.com.
Neil Simon’s “Rumors” in Sandy
Patrick Roth’s involvement with the Sandy Actors Theatre
(SAT) stretches back to 2007, and he’s performed in numerous productions since.
But Roth will take on a first-time role with SAT’s latest production, Neil
Simon’s comedy “Rumors,” as the show’s director.
And while the process has endured some bumps in the road,
including a performer testing positive for COVID-19 and another one dropping
out altogether, Roth is focused on making sure the audience will enjoy it.
“I hope they just come out laughing,” he said.
The play tells the story of the Deputy Mayor of New York,
who is wounded just as a gathering for his tenth wedding anniversary is about
to begin. With his wife nowhere in sight, his lawyer, Ken, and Ken's wife,
Chris, must get “the story” straight before the other guests arrive.
“In this show, everyone is an opposite, which is great,”
Roth said. “They each have their power dynamics, which is classic Neil Simon.
Each character trying to outdo each other.”
Roth has a background in clowning, and he noted that has
offered a good foundation for the play’s movement and physical comedy, adding
that he’s enjoyed connecting his cast with their inner comedic timing.
SAT presents “Rumors” from Friday, Sept. 23 through Sunday,
Oct. 16, at 17433 SE Meinig Avenue in Sandy (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, $13 for children and $15 for seniors, first responders,
students and veterans (reservations are recommended). For more information, or
to make reservations call 503-936-4378 or visit https://sandyactorstheatre.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Hoodland Fire ups staffing for fire season posted on 08/02/2022
All Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) fire districts
officially entered wildfire season on July 11. Drier, hotter conditions have
set in on the Mountain and throughout the state after a cool, wet spring. The
risk of human-caused and naturally occurring blazes continues to increase as
grass, scrubs and other underbrush that flourished during the wet season dries
and becomes an abundant fuel source waiting for a spark.
The Hoodland Fire District (HFD) received a $35,000 grant
from the Office of the State Fire Marshall (OSFM) to fund additional staffing
for the 2022 fire season.
“With the additional staffing we have a better chance to
catch a fire while it’s small before it has a chance to escalate,” Hoodland
Fire Chief Jim Price said.
The OSFM Response Ready Oregon Initiative allows districts
to expand staffing capacity using their current staffing model and pay scale.
The OSFM made an initial investment of $4 million to fund the 2022 Wildfire
Season Staffing Grant program. The OSFM defines fire season as spanning from
June 1 to Oct. 31 for the purpose of the grant. All grant funds must be
utilized by Oct. 31.
Chief Price stated that HFD will utilize existing personnel
to increase staffing for the months of August and September, including career
staff working overtime, volunteer firefighters and with a volunteer firefighter
continuing to fill a temporary role due to a vacancy in the career staff. The additional
staff will generally be on from noon until 8 p.m. when higher temperatures,
lower humidity and potential winds increase the likelihood of a fire.
The fire risk on the mountain was moderate at the end of
July according to the ODF.
“The great thing about the high precipitation earlier in the
year is it pushes fire season back. The bad thing is the fuels grow as a
result,” Chief Price said.
Triple digit temperatures will continue to dry fuels
throughout the region at the beginning of August.
The district continues to perform wildland fire risk
assessments in Government Camp in a preventative measure. Other preparation for
fire season includes making sure all equipment is serviced and ready,
monitoring the severity of conditions in the region and tracking ODF guidelines
regarding fire hazard.
Citizens are reminded to be aware of ODF restrictions and
monitor for changing conditions.
More information about wildfire preparation and prevention
is available on the HFD website at www.hoodlandfire.us.
Additional information about the Response Ready Oregon grant
is available at https://www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/sfm/Pages/OSFM-Grants.aspx.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| ODOT event looks at Hwy. 26 in Rhody posted on 08/02/2022
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will hold a
drop-in event from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 at the Mt. Hood Foods Grocery
Store parking lot, 73265 Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron, to get community feedback on
transportation on Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron.
The event is part of ODOT’s U.S. 26 Rhododendron Refinement
Plan, a project launched in April to address transportation safety, access and
connectivity issues in the community. The plan’s goals include identifying the
appropriate number of highway lanes, identifying the safest locations for
pedestrians to cross Hwy. 26, evaluate entry and exit points for destinations
and businesses, evaluate bus stop locations and other improvements, such as
sidewalks, bicycle lanes and dedicated driveways.
The plan, which builds upon concepts developed in the
Rhododendron Main Street Redevelopment Concept Plan, is in the planning phase,
with final street design elements and a concept plan expected to be complete in
early 2023.
Sandra Hikari, ODOT Major Projects Planner, noted that an
online open house for the project will likely take place in October, but the
August drop-in event offers an informal opportunity for people to share their
thoughts.
“This is a way to get folks who don’t have as much of an
online presence,” she added.
Hikari also noted that ODOT is currently performing
technical analysis, traffic counts, looking at traffic impacts of existing
conditions and looking at highway lane configurations from a safety standpoint
on the section of Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron, approximately between Road 10 and
Road 20. ODOT has listed the funding for developing the plan to be $150,000.
The community’s desire for improvements to the highway was
previously documented by the Rhody Rising committee of the Rhododendron
Community Planning Organization (CPO), which is also considering the future
development of buildings and the community.
The Rhody Rising committee is not affiliated with the ODOT
effort.
Mike Miskowicz, CPO President, noted that the Rhody Rising
committee is currently in a holding pattern.
The CPO will hold its next meeting from 10:30 a.m. to noon,
Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Mt. Hood Village RV Resort, 65000 Hwy. 26 in Welches.
For more information on the ODOT refinement plan, visit
TinyURL.com/US26RhodyRefinement.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Contributed photo
Bouquets of yellow flowers are blooming across our region.
Unfortunately, these colorful blooms are from the poisonous plant known as
tansy ragwort. They have many residents feverishly working to protect their
fields and livestock.
“This year is shaping up to be one of the worst for tansy
ragwort that we have seen,” said Samuel Leininger, WeedWise program manager for
the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District (CSWCD). “Weather conditions
this year resulted in perfect conditions to allow these plants to flourish. We
are receiving calls from concerned residents across Clackamas County.”
By the time tansy flowers appear, the best management of
this weed is a good pair of leather gloves and a healthy dose of perspiration
from pulling mature plants. Mowing and cutting do not kill the plants and only
spreads the poisonous vegetation.
Tansy ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) has long tormented hay
producers and rural landowners who graze livestock. Horses and cows are
especially susceptible to this poisonous weed.
“The alkaloids in tansy will build up in the liver and cause
irreversible damage in grazing animals,” Dr. Cath Mertens, a local
veterinarian, noted.
“They will generally avoid eating this weed unless there is
nothing else available. The best thing to do is to make sure your horses and
livestock always have something available to eat other than tansy.”
Contaminated hay is also a problem because it becomes
impossible for feeding animals to avoid tansy., “Please pay close attention to
the hay you put up or purchase,” Dr. Mertens said.
In the 1960s and 70s, two insects known as the cinnabar moth
and the tansy ragwort flea beetle were released in Oregon. These biological
control insects have been effective, but they follow a boom-bust cycle.
According to Joel Price, biological control entomologist for
the Oregon Department of Agriculture, “Two years ago the tansy ragwort
population was very high, but the following year the biological control insects
had reduced the tansy ragwort population by 95 percent.”
“With little left for the insects to eat, the insect
populations crash,” Price added. “In a normal year, there would be time for the
biocontrol population to build up. However, the historically wet spring is
causing problems for the flea beetle. This insect overwinters in the ground and
the overly wet spring is keeping it from reproducing quickly enough to help
control this year’s tansy explosion.”
Tansy outbreaks not only poison livestock but also affects
the relationships of neighbors. In Clackamas County, there are no longer weed
inspectors to regulate tansy ragwort, so residents are encouraged to work with
their neighbors to control this weed.
Tansy ragwort is manageable. Residents are encouraged to
focus on areas that are grazed and along fence lines to help prevent plants
from spreading. Flowering plants can be pulled and composted away from grazing
animals or disposed of as trash. Residents are also encouraged to plan for the
coming year to prevent plants from blooming. The Clackamas SWCD has developed
Tansy Ragwort Best Management Practices (https://bit.ly/3RSj8yZ) to help
residents with their control efforts.
“More than ever, we need neighbors working together to
protect pets and livestock from potential poisoning”, Leininger said.
If you have questions about steps you can take, please
contact the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District at 503-210-6000 for
more information.
For the Mountain Times by Lisa Kilders, the Education and
Outreach Program Manager for the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation
District. |
| Skyway's Crawdad Festival is back posted on 08/02/2022
Tracie Anderson, co-owner of the Skyway Bar and Grill with
Tom Baker, traces the roots of their annual Crawdad Festival to her mom and
dad, who started the tradition more than 25 years ago.
“It was always friends and family gathering, barbequing and
boiling up crawdads,” she said.
After the pair bought the Skyway in 2000, they thought it
would serve as a great venue for the event, and the family agreed.
“That’s when it changed from a party to a festival,” Baker
said.
Now in its 17th iteration (due to a few years off from the
pandemic and from the widening of Hwy. 26), the festival is back on Saturday,
Aug. 20 and Sunday, Aug. 21.
The event features approximately 550 pounds of crawdads,
cooked Louisiana style, and turned into various dishes, from po’ boys to gumbo
to barbeque.
In keeping with its roots, a crew of family and friends
volunteer to set things up and get the party started.
“It’s really been a tradition for a lot of families,”
Anderson said. “It’s something we all mark our calendars for.”
In addition to the crawdads (which necessitate an extra
refrigerator at the restaurant), the festival offers spicy corn and potatoes,
plus a face painter, t-shirts featuring designs by Baker, a “wheel of fun” and
live music from noon until close on both days.
There is a $5 entry fee for the festival (kids 12 and under
are free), with food items priced individually (crawdads can be purchased as
part of a meal or by the pound).
And despite securing approximately a quarter ton of
crawdads, people are encouraged to enjoy them while they last, as there aren’t
usually any leftovers.
“This year is extra special, we’ve been feeling so strange the
past couple years, not getting together,” Anderson said. “So this is going to
be a good one.”
The music lineup for the Crawdad Festival includes: the Mojo
Band (Funk Jazz) from noon - 3 p.m., Chervona (Vagabonding gypsy folk-punk)
from 3:30-5:30 p.m., and the Pagan Jug
Band (zydeco) 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20; and the Pagan Jug Band (Zydeco) from noon - 2
p.m., the Reverb Brothers (Swamp Rock) from 2:30-5 p.m. and Blue Flags &
Black Grass (Old Timey) from 5:30-8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 21.
The Skyway Bar and Grill is located at 71545 Hwy. 26 in
Zigzag. For more information, call 503-622-3775, find the restaurant's page on
Facebook or visit https://skywaybarandgrill.com/.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| All Seasons celebrates two decades posted on 08/02/2022
Carol Burk moved to Rhododendron in 1997, and quickly
established her already-existing company, Carol’s Complete Cleaning, in the
mountain communities. After receiving encouragement from customers who owned
vacation rentals in need of management, Carol started All Seasons Vacation
Rental (ASVR) in Welches in 2002.
“It started strictly organically,” Burk said. “A lot of
customers I had from cleaning asked if I wanted to manage their properties and
it grew from there.”
Fast-forward 20 years and All Seasons is the last locally
owned, boots on the ground vacation rental management company in the community.
Now Burk manages 32 properties in the Mount Hood area and
has accommodated travelers from around the globe who choose to plan their stay
on the mountain with her company.
ASVR currently has 13 employees, 11 of which are local
residents, with the other two residing nearby in Sandy.
Burk stated her business has the highest number of employees
to properties managed in the region as part of her company’s philosophy of
providing prompt and attentive service to both guests and property owners.
In addition to providing local jobs, All Seasons strives to
foster business relationships in the community.
“I try to do as much business with local vendors as
possible,” Burk said.
All Seasons provides 24 hour a day, seven day a week
customer service for visitors and property owners. The company website states
that ASVR also “provides full-service property management including Marketing,
Lead Management, Bookings, Property Cleaning, and light Maintenance for our
owners.”
Throughout the 20 years running the business Burk has garnered
most of her clients from word of mouth and referrals. As part of the company’s
focus on providing the best service for guests and homeowners employees attend
conferences and training seminars during the year to stay abreast with changes
in the vacation rental industry.
Looking ahead Burk plans on increasing the number of houses
the company manages to 50. Burk stated the company had been understaffed due to
the pandemic but had recently hired two more staff members and were poised to
increase the operation.
ASVR’s office is located at 23804 E Greenwood Avenue,
Welches and can be contacted by phone at 503-622-1142 or online at
https://www.mthoodrent.com.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| 'The Sound of Music' hits the stage at CRT posted on 08/02/2022
The cast of Clackamas Repertory Theatre’s (CRT) August
production of “The Sound of Music” has had an extended time to consider their
roles, as the show had been cast prior to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Director Jayne Stevens noted that the performers, including Merideth Kaye Clark
as Maria Rainer and Leif Norby as Captain Georg von Trapp, have put in a lot of
work during their wait.
“I think there’s a really nice energy in the room because of
that,” Stevens said. “Everyone is excited to be back doing musical theater.”
The show, one of the classic musicals from the 20th century,
offers the story of Maria, a governess for a large family who falls in love
with the widowed father, Captain von Trapp, with the two attempting to flee the
Nazis. Many theatergoers will be familiar with the show, featuring music by
Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Howard Lindsay and
Russel Crouse, either from its numerous stage productions or the 1965 film
starring Julie Andrews.
Stevens noted that it is a challenge to mount such a
well-known musical, balancing between giving the audience what they know and
want and also presenting it in their own way. But she also added that the
themes in the musical, including how some people have the means to leave where
they live when it gets too difficult and others don’t (reflected in the current
invasion of Ukraine), as pertinent to the world today.
“A lot of people didn’t have money and didn’t escape,”
Stevens said, adding that the show is also centered around a woman and what her
options are in the world. “There’s a lot of meat to ‘The Sound of Music,’ and I
think sometimes people forget about it.”
Stevens, who has performed in two different productions of
the show in her youth, noted that the music, including classics such as
“Edelweiss,” “My Favorite Things” and “Do-Re-Me,” offers a “beautiful choral
sound that you don’t always get in a musical.”
Stevens added that the show and the CRT season are dedicated
to Janice Osterman, who passed away before being able to see this musical
produced at the theater. Janice and her husband, Jim, have been major sponsors
of CRT since the first season, in 2005.
“The Ostermans have been such huge supporters of Clackamas
Repertory Theatre from the start,” Stevens said, noting that the first Friday
show, normally opening night, will be a sold-out performance for Jim and his
family and friends.
The CRT presents “The Sound of Music” from Aug. 4-28, at the
Osterman Theater 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. A low-cost preview performance
will be held on Thursday, Aug. 4. Children under the age of six will not be
admitted.
For more information, visit clackamasrep.org or call
503-594-6047.
Audience members will be required to wear masks and provide
proof of vaccination to attend performances. CRT’s COVID-19 policy is subject
to change and can be viewed online, at
https://www.clackamasrep.org/tickets-events/covid-19/.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Contributed photo.
The bell ceremony is a fire service funeral tradition that
reflects respect and honor for a deceased firefighter. Throughout history, the
tolling of a bell has been used to summon and give direction to firefighters
during alarms and to signal the beginning and the end of service. The funeral
bell acts as a ceremonial last call and signifies the end of duty for departed
firefighters.
In her role as State Commander of the Oregon Fire Service
Honor Guard (OFSHG), Hoodland Firefighter Amanda Schmitt leads the volunteer
organization as they provide funeral services, including the bell service and
flag presentation, and pay tribute to firefighters as they are laid to rest
across the state.
On June 9 the Honor Guard held a public ceremony honoring
Oregon firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2021, at the Fallen
Firefighter Memorial Wall in Salem. Schmitt also led the Honor Guard in
providing funeral services for retired Hoodland firefighter and volunteer Larry
Morgan on June 11 at the Church on the Mountain in Welches.
The OFSHG was established in 1998 to provide traditional
fire service funeral honors in rural parts of the state that lacked Honor Guard
resources. At the time there were no Honor Guard resources for the rural fire
service agencies in Oregon when one of their current or retired members died.
“That’s who we serve really, the small rural districts,”
Schmitt said. “The state fire service realized there was a need for the honor
and traditions of the fire service at funerals throughout the state.”
The mission of the Honor Guard is to honor the fire service
traditions and remember those who have fallen, while providing support for
their grieving families. The Honor Guard has specific ceremonial protocols for
line-of-duty deaths, active-duty deaths and retired-member deaths.
The organization coordinates with the family and will only
provide the portion of the ceremonial service the family desires.
At the June 9 public ceremony four new names of fire service
professionals that died in the line of duty in 2021 were added to the memorial
wall. All families were in attendance and were able to witness the honors given
to the fallen firefighters.
The Oregon Fallen Firefighters Memorial is located at the
Oregon Public Safety Academy, in Salem. The memorial was dedicated in 2006 and
lists the names of 174 firefighters who have lost their life in the line of
duty in the state since 1881.
Closer to home Schmitt performed funeral services for
retired Hoodland firefighter Larry Morgan on June 11.
Morgan proudly served his community as a volunteer
firefighter/EMS from 1993 until 2017 and in retirement on Hoodland’s Volunteer
Support Group.
“(Morgan) was instrumental in cooking and feeding the
firefighters whenever there were major calls and also at fire department
functions when all the families could gather together,” Schmitt said.
“His family was also a big part of the fire department and
his son Phil also volunteered for a time. Family is priority and the fire
department is usually just an extension of a larger family unit,” she added.
At Morgan’s service the honor performed the bell ceremony,
presented a folded flag to his wife as well as a ceremonial challenge coin and
his helmet to the family.
Schmitt has served in a volunteer role as OFSHG State
Commander for nine years and has volunteered as a member on the OFSHG team
since 2001.
Schmitt has also served the mountain communities as a
volunteer Firefighter with the Hoodland Fire District (HFD) since 2000.
More information about the OFSHG is available online at
http://www.ofshg.org. More info about HFD can be found at
https://www.hoodlandfire.us/.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| County moves ahead on repeal of STR rules posted on 07/01/2022
Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) edged
closer towards repealing county regulations for Short Term Rentals (STRs) in
unincorporated Clackamas County at a June 23 public reading, with a four-to-one
vote to proceed to a final public hearing of the repeal proposal.
The reading provided a fresh airing of long-simmering public
grievances, as Mount Hood residents in attendance detailed the negative impacts
of STRs on their communities. 15 community members spoke at the hearing and
urged the commissioners to act on the matter while highlighting impacts the rentals
have on their neighborhoods.
“The can has got to be stopped being kicked down the road.
We need to move forward with this,” Welches resident Rob Bruce stated. “Please
understand, we’re not against STRs, but we are for community, and we’re losing
community quickly.”
BCC Chair Tootie Smith stated that she and other
commissioners are opposed to the proposed $800 registration fee (covering two
years) that would be required to fund the program.
“I believe it’s quite onerous,” Smith said.
Residents countered the fee was comparable to other county
fees, such as the cost of a mailbox repair, and necessary to implement
regulations for issues including occupancy, building safety and parking that
business entities such as hotels and inns are held accountable for under
business zoning code.
Community members testified STRs are largely operated in
residential neighborhoods, often by out-of-town owners and increasingly
corporate and business entities. They detailed STRs impact on issues such as
road easements and access for emergency vehicles.
With no established method for funding and enforcing the
program county counsel urged that the code regarding the registration program
and regulations be removed from the county code.
The commissioners had a scattershot response to the
procedural meeting and were united primarily by opposition to implementing a
registration fee. Commissioner Paul Savas suggested substituting last minute
revisions to the regulations into the repeal process to maintain momentum on
the issue. County Counsel urged that any revisions or amendments be addressed
on a separate track while continuing to recommend that the current code be
repealed due to lack of funding.
“It’s cleaner to repeal the ordinance. This ordinance goes
into effect in seven days and staff will not implement it because we have no
funding,” County Administrator Gary Schmidt stated.
Commissioner Mark Shull called for a rewrite of the regulations
to include maximum occupancy limits and address if the property owner must
reside on site, but both issues are addressed in the current iteration of the
regulations. Commissioners Martha Schrader and Smith voiced opposition to the
fee but expressed the need to create a modified regulatory framework for the
STRs. Commissioner Sonya Fischer stated a need to change the funding source for
the code enforcement but was the lone vote in opposition to repealing the
existing county code governing STRs.
“This commission listened to communities across Clackamas
County and threaded the needle on these regulations,” Fischer said. “These
regulations are good. This (current) board as a whole has not even been briefed
on all the work the previous commission did on the issue.”
The second and final public reading is scheduled for the
Sept. 8 BCC meeting. The commissioners determined to hold policy sessions in
the interim and attempt to draft an alternate registration and regulation
program for STRs by that date in hopes of presenting an alternative to the
existing code with a different means of funding at the time of repeal.
STRs will continue to be allowed in unincorporated Clackamas
County as stated in the Zoning and Development Ordinance but with no regulatory
framework to address community impact.
“I’ve been following the process for three years. It’s
amazing to me that given the length of the process we’ve come back to being
nowhere,” said Barbara Smith, full time Rhododendron resident.
More information about the program is available online at
https://www.clackamas.us/planning/str.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Future of county land uncertain after Park District fails posted on 07/01/2022
When the final numbers were counted by Clackamas County
Elections, Measure 3-581, which would have formed a Park District and received
three parcels of land on Salmon River Road from the county to develop, failed.
Vote totals were 662 in favor of the district and 1,425
against it.
The effort to form the district, which started before the
coronavirus pandemic, included a petition submitted last November that required
more than 788 verified signatures, with organizers surpassing that number.
County numbers revealed that 48.79 percent of voters in the
precinct where the district was proposed cast a ballot.
In a written statement submitted to The Mountain Times by
the district’s three chief petitioners, Marci Slater, Regina Lythgoe and Bonnie
Hayman, they expressed their disappointment while pledging to remain a part of
the process in hoping that the land would be used for the community’s benefit:
“It would appear that the Ballot Measure 3-581 proposing to
establish Hoodland Park District has not met the required votes to go forward
with almost half of the electorate in the proposed boundary voting. While we
are sad that the district did not win the voter's favor, we are not sad for
ourselves,” they wrote.
The statement continued: “The Hoodland Park District
Committee, spurred on by Hoodland Women's Club, accomplished its goal and did
so with dignity, professionalism and grace. We set out to find a way to secure
and preserve the Dorman Center site property for the Hoodland Communities to be
enjoyed by local folks for generations to come. The motivation was purely out
of love for the place in which we live. The way to do that was to establish a
Special (Park) District in order to secure the land deed from Clackamas County.
We followed the state statutes governing the formation of such districts in
Oregon, collected the requisite petitions and testified at the requisite
hearings. We inspired the community to get engaged in the conversation about the
validity of the district. Most people woke up and got excited about this idea,
some in a positive way and some in opposition but we were all intrigued!
Finally, we put the measure before the voters on the proverbial ‘silver
platter,’ complete with a very competent and talented group of candidates for
the board. Then our job was done.”
“Indeed, the sadness we feel is for our community,” they
continued. “It is a sadness that accompanies an unrealized plan. The community
may never have this opportunity again to build something for itself with its
own money and its own plan. An amazing, unique and historic opportunity to
build something for the future generations of this community, a farsighted
plan, has been passed up by the voters. Going forward, we will continue to
support our community and any plan that includes the preservation of (the)
Dorman Center site for the better good of all our neighbors will be supported
by us in any way we can. Many thanks to everyone who helped and or supported
this measure. The volunteers put in many selfless hours of work, ideas and love
of this community.”
Kimberly Dinwiddie-Webb, Public Information Officer for
Clackamas County, noted that the county will hold discussions regarding the
future of the land involved with the proposed district over the next year, but
no specific timeline has been set.
“We know that the community is curious about these parcels
and we will share more information when it becomes available,” she wrote in an
email to The Mountain Times.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Sandy's summer returns with festival fun posted on 07/01/2022
Khyrs Jones, Executive Director of the Sandy Area Chamber of
Commerce, noted that the return of the chamber’s biggest annual fundraiser, the
Music Fair and Feast, has got people in the community talking, especially after
two years without the event. Not just about the live music or the kids'
activities or the food, but about getting out and seeing some familiar faces
after two years off due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“All I’ve heard is positive; everybody seems to be excited
and ready for something,” Jones said. “People use it to connect with people.”
The event runs from Thursday, July 7 through Saturday, July
9, in Sandy’s Centennial Plaza, and draws approximately 40,000 people, with
proceeds going to the Chamber to support Sandy area businesses.
It kicks off on Thursday with Family Night from 5-11:30 p.m.
and free admission for all ages. The Rational Delusions will play from 7:30-11
p.m. following the Sandy Mountain Festival Parade.
Friday’s music will feature Chris Carpenter & The
Collective from 5:30-8:30 p.m. (admission fee is $7) and the Wil Kinky Trio
from 9 p.m. until midnight.
Saturday will be Family Day from noon to 5 p.m. (free
admission, with an admission fee of $7 after 5 p.m.), with musical acts
BBbluzemanband from 3-5 p.m., Jimmy Russell’s Party City 2034 from 5:30-8:30
p.m. and Jennifer Batten and Full Steam from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Jones noted that Carpenter will be a familiar face, as this
will be the third time he’s played at the event, while Batten is a local
guitarist who played with Michael Jackson as part of her career.
“We didn’t think we’d be able to get her, especially on a
weekend night,” Jones said.
Jones added that the past two years have been tight for the
Chamber and that they decided not to bring back the chili cookoff and kids’
bakeoff this year.
Instead, Ace Hardware and US World Class Taekwondo will
offer family activities from noon to 3 p.m. while Ria’s Bar will sponsor Bingo at
2 p.m. on Saturday.
The event will also feature local food vendors, including
barbeque and gyros, signature cocktails and a beer and wine garden.
“We’re excited to support local food businesses,” Jones
said.
Tickets ($7 general admission and $20 for a VIP package,
including a commemorative cup and three drink tickets) are required for Friday
and Saturday after 5 p.m. For more information on the event and the chamber, or
to purchase tickets, visit https://sandyoregonchamber.org.
A coupon for $2 off of Friday admission is available at the
Sandy Les Schwab Tires, 37895 Hwy. 26 in Sandy. Tickets are also available at
Geren’s Farm and Landscape Supply, Forrest Insurance Agency and Ace Heritage
Hardware.
More July fun in Sandy
The Sandy Mountain Festival also returns to action this July
after a two-year hiatus, kicking off with the parade, starting at 7 p.m.
Thursday, July 7, running east on Pioneer Blvd. between Bluff Road and Wolf
Drive.
Carnival rides, located behind the Dairy Queen, 17400 Beers
Ave. in Sandy, will run from 6 p.m. to close on Thursday, July 7 and noon to
close from Friday, July 8 to Sunday, July 10.
The festival's arts, vendors and live music will be held
from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 9 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 10
at Meinig Park in Sandy, offering shopping, food and more.
For more information and to buy tickets for the carnival,
visit https://www.sandymountainfestival.org/.
And the City of Sandy 4th of July fireworks show will take
place at dusk on Monday, July 4 at Sandy High School, 37400 Bell Street in
Sandy.
Parking is available at the school. For more info, visit
www.ci.sandy.or.us.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Summer starts with a farce at Clack Rep posted on 07/01/2022
David Smith-English, director of Clackamas Repertory
Theater’s (CRT) production of “Desperate Measures,” noted that when the show
opens this month it will have been more than two years since the theater’s last
indoor performance.
“I’m excited,” he said. “It just seems like forever for me.”
The musical comedy offers the story of Johnny Blood, whose
life is on the line after he shot a man while trying to save his love. The show
is set in Arizona in 1892 with a cast of characters including a mysterious
sheriff, an eccentric priest, a corrupt governor, a saloon girl gone good and a
nun out of the habit.
“It’s a wonderful show,” Smith-English said. “It has a kind
of western tinge to it. The music is so memorable. People are going to go out
humming these songs.”
The show is based on William Shakespeare’s “Measure for
Measure,” and Smith-English noted that the plot line closely follows the Bard’s
play. The musical also stays true to Shakespeare by using iambic pentameter, a
structure of unstressed and stressed syllables, which Smith-English sees as a
benefit to the performers.
“It really eases the understanding of the lines,” he said.
“Everything has a rhyme to it and it also makes it easier to memorize.”
Smith-English added that while audience members will really
enjoy the music and the laughs, they will also get insight into relationships
and love.
“You go away reexamining your own relationships,” he said.
“It’s very funny. As Shakespeare’s show was, it’s a little naughty, in a very
fun way.”
CRT’s production of “Desperate Measures,” book and lyrics by
Peter Kellogg, music and vocal arrangements by David Friedman and
orchestrations by David Hancock Turner, will run Thursdays to Sundays through
July 24, 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 $40 for adults and $30 for youth
(ages six to 25).
For more information, visit www.clackamasrep.org or call
503-594-6047.
This production includes recorded simulated gunshots. Masks
and proof of vaccination will be required for audience members, while the
theater will also accept proof of a negative COVID-19 test from a healthcare
provider taken within 48 hours before you attend a performance.
CRT’s summer season will continue with productions of “The
Sound of Music,” from Aug. 4-28, and “The Book Club Play,” from Sept. 8 to Oct.
2.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| District's summer program helps students make up for lost time posted on 07/01/2022
Students from throughout the Oregon Trail School District
(OTSD) will have a chance to further their learning, including earning credits
for high school students, through the district’s free summer academy program.
Kendra Payne, Principal of Welches Schools, noted that there
will be traditional core subjects, such as math, in addition to high interest
classes on other subjects, including courses for high school students such as
the literature of Stephen King and Neil Gaiman, Archetypes in Film, Light
Vehicle Maintenance, Shakespeare in Film, Mixed Media Painting, Unlocking
Mystery, Soccer Skills and Conditioning and Grid Weave Drawing.
“It’s just really fun, different classes; things to keep
kids engaged and learning,” Payne said, noting that there are a lot of students
from the Welches Schools who will participate in the academy.
The academy consists of two different three-week sessions,
while including bus service and food for the students all at no charge.
OTSD Communications Director Julia Monteith noted that the
program is funded by two grants from the Oregon Department of Education (Summer
K-8 Enrichment Grant and Summer High School Academic Support Grant), which
covers 80 percent of the costs, and the Federal Elementary & Secondary
School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund providing the remaining 20 percent.
The academy is open to currently enrolled students of the
OTSD (incoming kindergarten students are not eligible), and classes will be
held at Sandy Grade School (38955 Pleasant Street in Sandy), Cedar Ridge Middle
School (17100 Bluff Road in Sandy) and Sandy High School (37400 Bell Street in
Sandy).
Payne noted that it is the second year for the program and
that some art offerings will be part of the Right Brain Initiative, an arts
integration to help students link learning from one area to others.
“It’s great instruction; (students) just have some fun
learning along with the traditional core subjects,” she said.
Monteith reported that the first session is full, but there
are still some openings for middle and high school students in the second
session, beginning Monday, Aug. 1. There is also a wait list for elementary
students, in case some spots open up.
The summer academy is not available as a remote option. For
more information, visit https://www.oregontrailschools.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| County commissioners aim to repeal short term rental program posted on 06/01/2022
The Clackamas Board of County Commissioners (BCC) began the
process of repealing county code that would establish a short-term rental (STR)
registration program and business regulations for short-term rentals in
unincorporated Clackamas County at a May 10 meeting.
The repeal of the county code will not impact the zoning and
development ordinance (ZDO) that allow STRs in the county.
The county code regarding the registration program and
business regulations has not been enforced since the program was established in
July of 2021 due to the BCC delaying implementing a registration fee for the
program necessary to fund the two full-time county employees needed to run the
program.
“It became clear that this current board was not interested
in implementing the fee,” Assistant County Counsel Nate Boderman said.
The BCC voted to delay implementing action on establishing
the fees needed to run the program until May 2022. At a May 4 policy session,
the board voted to once again delay action until 2023.
Then, at a May 10 policy issue meeting the board approved
County Counsel Stephen Madkour’s recommendation to proceed with the process to
repeal the portion of county code, Section 8.10, that establishes the
registration and business regulations for STRs.
Counsel recommended a repeal because the program has not
been funded and as a result the regulatory components are not being enforced.
“I wasn’t crazy about having regulations on the books that
weren’t going to be enforced,” Boderman said.
In addition to striking down the registration fee, STR
owners will not be required to register with the county or provide information
regarding contact in case of complaints, proof of insurance, or an affidavit of
compliance with safety standards. STRs will also not be subject to requirements
for maximum occupancy, off-street parking, garbage pick-up and noise and safety
requirements not covered under existing county ordinance.
The work completed since spring of 2019 by county staff
establishing a registration program and regulations will remain eligible to be
adopted at a future date by the BCC.
Repeal of the registration and business regulations will not
affect zoning ordinance or whether STR owners will be subject to the required
county transient lodging tax and the state transient lodging tax.
The ZDO that clarifies that STRs are allowed in
unincorporated portions of the county is currently on hold pending an appeal
with the state. The challenge to the ordinance does not impact the mountain
communities “based on the nature of the challenge stating there is no separate
use in a resource zone,” Boderman said.
Repeal of county ordinances requires two public hearings to
be held at least 13 days apart, at which time citizens are invited to provide
testimony on the proposed repeal. A date for the first public hearing has not
been set. Boderman anticipates the first public hearing will be scheduled for
mid to late June.
“(The hearings) are an opportunity for anyone interested in
the topic to address it directly with the board,” Boderman said.
More information is available online including: the staff
report and video of the May 4 Policy Session:
https://www.clackamas.us/meetings/bcc/presentation/2022-05-04-0, staff
documents and video for the May 10 Issues Session:
https://www.clackamas.us/meetings/bcc/issues/2022-05-10, and background
information about the project: https://www.clackamas.us/planning/str.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
|  Jon and Dee Tullis.
It takes very little time at Timberline Lodge to begin to
appreciate its majestic grandeur and its testament to those craftsmen who
created the iconic building. But if one could spend nearly four decades there,
as Jon Tullis did in his career, some of the smaller details can also stand
out.
Tullis, who retired this year, noted one of the designs on
the rock face of the main lobby’s chimney as just such a detail.
“One in particular resembles a circle of clasped hands,” he
wrote in an email to The Mountain Times. “I believe it is called ‘Working
Hands.’ I hope that’s true because that’s what it symbolizes for me – all the
folks who have worked here, and the teamwork that it took to build the Lodge.
That’s a perfect symbol for the spirit of Timberline.”
Tullis began his career at Timberline in 1984, after moving
from New York state and introducing himself to the lodge’s operator, Richard
Kohnstamm, following a day of skiing. Looking back, he described it as a
“perfect fit” and how he played a part in the Lodge’s ongoing and continuing
place in history.
“Well, among other things, I think it means that I have
spent my career at a special place, doing something that I really enjoyed, and
I like to think it was something worthwhile and that mattered,” Tullis wrote.
“It puts me in the fine company of all the others who came through Timberline,
from the dreamers, to the builders, the artists, the architects, the athletes,
the visitors and certainly those that have worked to preserve Timberline Lodge
and keep it thriving. It is quintessential Oregon. I am proud to be a part of
its heritage, and proud to have contributed to its preservation. I hope the
Lodge will be cherished for many generations to come.”
Tullis added that the Lodge, dedicated in 1937 by President
Franklin D. Roosevelt and built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA)
during the Great Depression, continues to be operated as it was originally
intended, as a ski lodge and gathering spot. That type of use for a historical
building can offer challenges, as Tullis wrote about in the Winter 2022 edition
of “Timberlines,” a publication from the Friends of Timberline organization.
“Harry Hopkins, President Roosevelt’s WPA Administrator
called it ‘social usefulness’ and I think we are still carrying that out to
this day,” Tullis explained. “So you see as operators of the business, we are
the keepers of that culture. We would never want it to be a museum, like so
many other landmarks are, you know, where people simply get the velvet rope
treatment. We are in the hospitality business. We want people to enjoy it the
way it was intended to be enjoyed. We are
preserving not just the Lodge,
but its original mission. That’s what the phrase ‘preservation through use’ is
all about. Yes, it can be challenging in a place that gets so much wear and
tear, but once you fully realize the mission of ‘preservation through use,’ how
you operate it, care for it, and preserve the place becomes very logical, and
very achievable. It feels right.”
Tullis, who has relocated to the Oregon Coast with his wife,
Dee, particularly hopes that two of his contributions to the Lodge, the
singer/songwriter series held in the main lobby and the Mountain Music Festival
held outdoors at the historic amphitheater, will return after the coronavirus
pandemic and continue on.
“I hope that can be resurrected,” he wrote. “There is
something about live music that really blows magic into this place. And lots of
fond memories are made. I sure have a lot.”
Tullis also noted that when he first started working at
Timberline Lodge, it felt more like a bed and breakfast establishment, while
they frequently held special events, such as art fairs, ski races or
snowboarding competitions, to attract visitors.
“Nowadays, we simply don’t need to do those any longer
because we are packed, particularly on peak winter weekends,” he wrote. “So
that’s just one thing that has changed. With increased visitation comes
increased pressures and the challenges of traffic congestion and everything
else that comes with capacity crowds. That’s one thing I think our land
managers and everyone who works in the tourist industry really need to get
right in the coming years. We need more recreational infrastructure, more
parking and more alternative transportation solutions. I’m a big fan of smart
planning, and we have some catching up to do.
“But having said all that, I can also tell you what has NOT
changed, and that’s Timberline Lodge as a place,” he added. “In this fast-paced
world where it seems that everything is accelerating and changing before our
eyes, the old-world charm and the sense of permanence that Timberline Lodge
provides is precious. It looks and feels a lot like it did some 80 years ago.
That really resonates with people. Long live Timberline Lodge, jewel of the
Cascades!”
Tullis plans on spending time hiking, fishing, volunteering
in his community and enjoying sunsets in his retirement.
But he’ll also explore his musical passion by hosting a
two-hour radio show on KMUN, 91.9 on FM radio and also streaming online
(www.kmun.org).
Tullis’ story from the “Timberlines” publication can be read
at
https://www.friendsoftimberline.org/uploads/1/2/9/8/129876921/webfot47new.pdf.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| County election results delayed after ballot bungle posted on 06/01/2022
Clackamas County made election headlines last month from
Arkansas to New York and beyond, thanks to ballots printed with blurred
barcodes that rendered them unreadable to the county’s automated equipment. The
error resulted in thousands of ballots requiring duplication by election
workers of different political affiliations.
Clackamas County Clerk Sherry Hall acknowledged the blurred
barcodes in a press release dated May 4, and as of Saturday, May 28, a total of
98,187 ballots had been counted out of 116,045 received and 16,559 ballots
needing to be duplicated remained.
The county has until Monday, June 13 to certify the results.
While some results from the May primary have been decided
even before the outstanding votes in Clackamas County are tallied, voters on
the Mountain will have to wait before learning the fate of the proposed
Hoodland Park District (Measure 3-581). If formed, the district would receive
three parcels of land on Salmon River Road from Clackamas County and would
develop the Dorman Center site as a community park, with possible amenities
including a pavilion, playground, walking trails, extended community garden,
bike pump track, skate park, dog park, space for farmers market, restrooms and
onsite security.
The district would be funded by a local property tax,
proposed to be a maximum of 67 cents per $1,000 of assessed value (resulting in
approximately $200 per year on a house with an assessed value of $300,000) and
would be overseen by a board of five volunteer directors, also elected on the
May ballot.
As of Saturday, May 28, voters had cast 1,205 votes in
opposition to the proposed district against 534 in support.
Marci Slater, the chief petitioner for the proposed
district, noted that it was still too early to call it one way or the other.
“I’m not fretting over it or worried,” she said, adding that
it was still possible for the “yes” votes to be in the majority. “We left it up
to the voters.”
Should the district fail in the final tally, the county would
look to sell the parcels of land. Clackamas County Public Information Officer
Kimberly Dinwiddie-Webb noted that there is currently no timeline on next steps
with the property as the county is focused on finishing the election results on
or before June 13.
Out of seven candidates running for the district’s board of
directors, the five with the most votes as of that date were Robb Courtney,
Regina Lythgoe, Becky Fortune, Brittany Kintigh and Dannelle Wolfe.
Elsewhere on the ballot, Sandy Mayor Stan Pulliam came in
third in the state for the Republican nomination for Oregon Governor, with the
early returns in Clackamas County placing him second to winner Christine
Drazan. Drazan will face off against Democrat Tina Kotek in the November
election.
On the local level, Raz Mason will be the Democratic nominee
for State Senator, 26th District, facing Republican Daniel Bonham, while
Republican Jeff Helfrich will face Democrat Darcy Long in the race for State
Representative, 52nd District. Anna Williams, who currently serves as the 52nd
District Representative, chose not to run for reelection.
County races that could be impacted by the continuing vote
count include Clackamas County Commissioner Position 2, where incumbent Paul
Savas held a lead over Libra Forde, 38.13 percent to 33.23 percent, and
Clackamas County Commissioner Position 5, where incumbent Sonya Fischer held a
lead over Ben West, 44.71 percent to 39.02 percent, as of Saturday, May 28.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Fire District reminds community to prepare for wildfire season posted on 06/01/2022
Hoodland Fire District (HFD) announced personnel changes in
May and continued its public outreach to prepare citizens for potential
wildland fires as the district gears up for summer on the Mountain.
Lieutenant Andrew Figini will leave the district to accept a
position as a lateral firefighter for the city of Portland. He accepted the
position on April 30. Figini has been with the district for more than seven
years.
“We’re excited for Andy’s opportunity and for new people to
step in and fill these roles,” Fire Chief James Price said.
Figini’s role with the district will be filled by volunteer
firefighter Amanda Schmidt on a temporary basis while the district completes
the civil servant hiring process.
Long-time HFD firefighter James Lucas was promoted to the
rank of Lieutenant in May. Lucas has been with the district since July 1, 1996.
He most recently served as a senior firefighter.
HFD hosted a Wildfire Community Preparedness event on
Tuesday, May 24 at the Hoodland Fire Main Station. The fire district partnered
with Clackamas County Disaster Management to present information to the
community on how to protect a home from a wildland fire, evacuation preparedness
and how to evacuate large animals and pets.
“The Hoodland Fire District would like our citizens to start
thinking about wildland fire season before it is upon us,” Division Chief/Fire
Marshal Scott Kline wrote in an email. “Research around home destruction vs.
home survival in wildfires show embers and small flames as the primary way many
homes ignite in wildfires.”
Kline described how homeowners can prepare their homes and
minimize the likelihood of embers or small flames from touching the structure
by maintaining a three zone Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) defensive perimeter.
The immediate zone encompasses the structure and the five
feet surrounding the home. It is considered the most important area to maintain
for fire prevention. The intermediate defensive zone includes area up to 30
feet from the structure and the extended zone encompassing up to 100 feet.
“Within our communities we may not be able to get out to
that 100-foot mark, but as a homeowner, please take the time to work on the
immediate zone (0-5 feet) to lessen the chance of your home igniting in a
wildfire,” Kline noted.
Community members received information on how to prepare for
a wildfire and how to prepare to evacuate. Tips included creating and preparing
a wildfire action plan – a checklist that includes evacuation routes and
emergency meeting locations. Residents should stay alert in the case of a fire
and know how to receive the latest news and information from local media and
Clackamas Fire. Clackamas Fire reminded community members to be prepared to
leave at a moment’s notice due to the rapid and unpredictable movements of
wildfires.
The community preparedness event also featured information
from Clackamas County Dog Services and Sound Equine Options on evacuating large
animals and pets in the case of an evacuation in the community.
More information on wildfire preparation can be found online
at https://www.hoodlandfire.us/wildfire-information.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Los Andes Shop moves to Museum's plaza for summer posted on 06/01/2022
Deborah Berhó and her husband started selling sweaters that
her husband’s mom knit from her home in Chile in 1988. But they went to
college, found careers and the sweater business took a backseat.
In 2018, the pair returned to selling sweaters and more at
fairs and other events with their business, Los Andes Shop, while also setting
up shop in Government Camp during the summer. This year, they will be back at
the Mt. Hood Cultural Center & Museum’s plaza between Saturday, June 18 and
Monday, Sept. 5, offering a variety of handmade textiles, including sweaters,
jackets, blankets, couch throws, hammocks, hoodies and more, featuring various
themes, such as southwestern, sasquatch and Mount Hood.
“We are excited to be in that location this coming summer,”
said Berhó, who has a PhD in Latin American history.
The textiles they offer include many from the town of
Otavalo in Ecuador, and Berhó notes that the area has been known for its
production of fabric for centuries, ever since Spain's occupation of the
country. The hoodies they offer feature a blend of alpaca and acrylic, making
them very soft, yet washable, while they have also added items featuring
Bigfoot, including trucker hats and blankets, thanks to how popular the big
beast is.
Berhó noted that their relationships with the people who
make the textiles is a high priority, including supporting many women who get
to work at home while taking care of their children and earning a living.
“It is special,” Berhó said, adding that she and her husband
usually travel down to Ecuador in the spring. “We try to honor them and know
them as people, and that’s really fun, too.”
Their relationship with the Mountain is also important, and
Berhó noted that they have appreciated the open arms the community has offered
them.
“We have made a lot of good relationships with people on
Mountain,” she said. “We have people that come back that get a new (blanket)
each year.”
Los Andes Shop will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays
through Mondays. For more information, find them on Facebook or visit
https://losandesshop.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| PGE continues to replace tree connections posted on 06/01/2022
Portland General Electric (PGE) completed approximately 100
replacements of electrical service drops that were attached to trees on
Mountain Properties during 2021 and has continued the efforts this year,
according to Andrea Platt, PGE Media Relations. Platt noted that this will be a
“multi year project” to bring the drops up to current standards.
Property owners who have a PGE stake on their property with
a work order starting with the letter “M” are encouraged to contact the company
to work through design options for their site.
“Each of these tree attachments are dealt with on a
case-by-case basis,” Platt said. “You can imagine it’s time consuming.”
She added that there are currently hundreds of ongoing
conversations with various landowners, while approximately 200 attachments are
also on U.S. Forest Service land.
Platt noted that people generally understand the safety
component of the project.
“That seems to be resonating,” she said. “That’s a good
thing.”
Platt added that almost all poles that hold distribution
lines are “direct buried” into the ground, a standard industry practice where
the pole is inserted directly into the ground to the required depth and then
backfilled with tamped gravel.
No precise timeline for the project completion was
available, and Platt added that the efforts have been complicated by the
coronavirus pandemic and supply chain issues.
For more information, or if you have a stake on your
property and want to contact PGE, please visit
https://portlandgeneral.com/tree-attachment.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Contributed image
Mountain residents who have been around long enough may
remember the Skiway Tram that ran from Government Camp to Timberline Lodge back
in the 1950s. And in a few years, it's possible a similar ride will be
available, with Timberline eyeing a gondola to connect the lodge and Summit
Pass, as outlined in the Master Development Plan (MDP) released in late March.
“It’s going to be great for a wide variety of customers,”
said John Burton, Timberline’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations,
noting that skiers, sightseers, hikers and more would be able to use the
gondola throughout the year, all while removing traffic and congestion from
Timberline Road and Hwy. 26.
The MDP, a 134-page document that can be found on
Timberline’s website, www.timberlinelodge.com, offers a 10-year plan and
includes bevy of conceptual ideas for the direction of future development and
improvements, including upgrades to the Summit Pass area. The document is
required as part of the special use permit Timberline and Summit work under,
and Burton noted that after Timberline Lodge operator R.L.K. and Company took
over operations of Summit in 2018, the new MDP process began.
Burton noted that the process to develop the new plan
included stakeholder and community feedback (including various partners such as
Clackamas County and the Government Camp Community Planning Organization),
while taking a broader view of the new combined recreation area and an eye
toward sustainable development.
“The last thing Timberline wants is to build something that
delivers more capacity than we can handle,” Burton said, adding that the
Timberline special use permit is the longest held permit in the country. “We
need to keep building and maintaining our facilities.”
A press release on the MDP noted that it was reviewed and
accepted by the U.S. Forest Service.
“While it does not approve any of the concepts held within,
it recognizes that they are consistent with the Forest Plan,” Jeff Kohnstamm,
R.L.K. and Company President and Area Operator, said in the release.
The approval doesn’t mean that visitors will get to enjoy a
gondola ride from Government Camp to Timberline this year (or even in the near
future).
Burton noted that other projects in the MDP will likely be
tackled first, including a new facilities shop that could include space for
employee locker rooms and ski patrol, along with increased snow making for
Timberline.
“Those would be the first proposals from the Master
Development Plan, if I had to guess today,” he said. “Things will happen at
Timberline before things happen at Summit. There will be lots of things going
on in addition to moving forward with this gondola project.”
Burton added that when Kohnstamm is ready to move ahead,
they will go back to the plan and then make a formal proposal for the gondola
project, which could transport up to 2,000 people per hour.
The formal proposal would then kick off the National
Environmental Policy Act work, which could take up to three years to complete.
Burton estimated that the timeline for the gondola to be up
and running might be the 2028-29 season, adding it took seven years for
Timberline to get its bike park done. He also noted that Timberline will have
to coordinate with area partners on the timing due to other projects, including
a possible move of the rest area at the east end of Government Camp.
“We’ll talk to everyone and we’ll get through it,” Burton
said.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Hoodland Farmers Market returns for fifth year with big changes posted on 05/01/2022
When Kate Brauner found out that the Market Manager for the
Hoodland Farmers Market was ready to pass the reigns of the job to someone
else, she decided to take the plunge.
“It was just a really cool opportunity to increase community
in my hometown and (increase) food access,” said Brauner, who grew up in
Welches and knew the previous manager, Lauren Carusona.
And that’s not the only thing new for the market, which has
offered fresh produce and more to Mountain residents every summer since 2018.
The market will have a new time and day of the week, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on
Saturdays from May 28 to Oct. 1, and a new location at the Church on the
Mountain (68301 Hwy. 26 in Welches).
“This makes it more accessible to families with young
children,” Brauner said. “I want it to be a community hub.”
The market will bring back a number of familiar vendors
(along with a few new ones), with Roots Farm, Hoodhills Farm, Frances Waddell
Art, La Fountain Herbal, Hood Soaps, Heart Song Ceramics, White River Healings
and Root and Wallow Farm already signed up, with the possibility that more will
take part.
Brauner also plans on expanding the market’s offerings and
keeping shoppers around longer by adding musical performances, children’s
activities and hot food on site, including sausages by Root and Wallow Farm.
In addition, the market will accept Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
“So everyone can enjoy the market and it’s not a novelty,”
explained Brauner, who is also currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in
Agriculture. “It’s something that can benefit all parts of the community.”
This is Brauner's first venture into running a farmer’s
market, but she has had experience as an organizer and in community outreach.
She noted that the amount of work involved was “trickier” than she expected,
but she has other ideas for the market, including creating new local jobs and
offering youth internships.
“That’s kind of my goal, moving into that direction; not
only supporting farmers and healthy food access, but labor as well,” Brauner
said. “I’m really happy with the way it’s shaping up.”
The market can be supported through its page on
www.gofundme.com. For more information, find the market on Facebook and
Instagram, and anyone interested in volunteering can email
hoodlandfarmersmarket@gmail.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Hoodland Fire's Scott Kline graduates from elite officer program posted on 05/01/2022
Hoodland Fire District (HFD) Division Chief/Fire Marshall
Scott Kline graduated from the National Fire Academy’s (NFA) Executive Fire
Officer (EFO) Program on Thursday, March 24. Kline joins an elite group of less
than one percent of all senior fire officials nationwide who have graduated
from this executive program.
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) website states “the EFO
program is the pinnacle of the USFA’s commitment to support the needs of fire
and emergency medical services agencies in preparing executive officers.”
The intensive program consists of a two-week class every
year for four years onsite at the NFA’s campus in Emmitsburg, Md. Each class is
equivalent to an upper-division baccalaureate or graduate-level course and can
be used for obtaining a graduate level degree.
“The EFO Program allowed me the opportunity to identify
situations and conduct research that could then be applied to improve both our
fire district and community,” Kline said.
During the four-year program, Division Chief Kline took
courses in Executive Development, Executive Analysis of Community Risk
Reduction, Executive Analysis of Fire Service Operations in Emergency
Management and Executive Leadership, a course which focuses primarily on issues
and areas of personal effectiveness. Kline would then produce a written Applied
Research Project (ARP) within six months of completing each course. The ARP was
required to relate to factors that could influence the Hoodland Fire District.
“I always look for educational opportunities. I look how it
will benefit me with what I am doing for the fire district,” Kline said.
The EFO program uses two different selection criteria to
admit students: service and academic. Service requirements include holding the
rank of a chief officer, or key individuals that hold a position of authority
or leadership. Academically, students are required to have a bachelor’s degree
or a combination of college credits and life experiences.
Kline has been with the HFD for 37 years. He began as a
volunteer firefighter in November, 1984 and was hired as a career firefighter
with the district in November, 2004.
Kline’s education includes an Associates of Applied Science
(AAS) in Fire Protection Technology (Portland Community College), Bachelor of
Science (BS) in Geography and Regional Planning (Eastern Oregon University) and
a Certificate of Paramedic Education (Oregon Health Sciences University/Oregon
Institute of Technology).
Kline has resided in Welches since 1996. Prior to that he
was a resident of Government Camp.
Kline offered his thanks for the district’s support and for
allowing him time away from work each year to attend classes and complete the
EFO program. He also thanked his wife Lisa and their family for the
encouragement and support through the process.
“I would have not completed this program without the support
of everyone in my family and firefighting family,” Kline said.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Enjoy some Mariachi on Mother's Day posted on 05/01/2022
Maria Burke, President of Mt. Hood Unida, noted that while
Mother’s Day is important in the United States, it has a special place in
Mexico, rivaling Christmas and Easter in the holiday hierarchy.
“It’s a big holiday,” she said. “We celebrate it with
mariachi, dinners (and) meals with family.”
This month, Mt. Hood Unida, a local nonprofit formed to
unite community and empower Lantinos, will offer a Día de las Madres from 5-9
p.m. Saturday, May 7. The event will feature a tamale dinner, mariachi, a
makers market and more, with proceeds supporting Mt. Hood Unida programs.
“We wanted to do Mother’s Day just because we know how big
it is in our culture,” Burke said.
Cristina Saldivar, Vice President of Mt. Hood Unida and
Burke’s sister, noted that moms from all families made sacrifices for their
children. Their mother, Maria Saldivar (who will be catering the event), left
her family in Mexico to start a new life in Welches, without knowing a person
here or even the language.
“Our mother did that for us; we appreciate it very much,”
Burke said. “We have so many different opportunities and we’ve had a wonderful
life here on the Mountain.”
The event will feature a mariachi band made up of students
from Woodburn High School.
“Nothing makes me more proud and feel joy for my culture
than that intense, beautiful sound,” Cristina said. “Mariachi brings people
back to a time they want to remember; events, special days that are a snapshot
of culture, joy and resilience.”
The event’s market will include vendors with arts and goods,
including churros from Tanny’s Bakery in Gresham.
Dia de las Madres will be held at the Mt. Hood Lions
clubhouse, 24730 E. Woodsey Way in Welches. Tickets are $18 for adults and $9
for children and can be purchased at the door or at Coffee House 26, 67211 Hwy.
26 in Welches.
Mt. Hood Unida formed last July and kicked off their events
calendar with a Día de la Independencia last September and Día de los Muertos
in October. It offers the Saul Gallegos Ruiz Memorial Scholarship, helping Latinx
students in the Oregon Trail School District participate in school sports.
Burke also noted that Mt. Hood Unida just received grant
funding for an afterschool program starting this fall, Una Voz, where middle
school students can practice Spanish, learn about the culture and more. She
added that in the future, they hope to have a space of their own to help
connect people with resources and more, while Cristina added that future
offerings could include an open mic night, a migrant women’s writing group and
more.
“We know that there are some really incredible stories out
there on the Mountain,” she said. “With the organization, there hasn’t been a
moment we haven’t stopped dreaming.”
The group is also looking for possible board members,
volunteers and committee members. For more information, visit
www.mthoodunida.org.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Grand opening for historic sawmill at Philip Foster Farms posted on 05/01/2022
The smell of fresh sawdust will greet history buffs,
pioneers-in-training and other guests at the grand opening of a historic
Pacific Northwest sawmill at the Philip Foster Farm National Historic Site on
the Barlow Road. The event will be held at the historic farm located at 22725
SE Eagle Creek Road in Eagle Creek from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 14.
“Our goal is to make history hands on. Being able to add
this sawmill is very cool,” said Elaine Butler, Educational Director for the
historic site.
Although Foster Farm offers a hands-on educational
experience of life in the region during the pioneer days, guests are reminded
to watch their fingers around the saw. The sawmill was donated to the historic
site by the Heiple family, residents of Eagle Creek. The farm received a grant
from Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory, a branch of Clackamas County Tourism and
Cultural Affairs, to restore the sawmill.
Philip Foster came to Oregon in 1843 and established a
sawmill in Oregon City. Foster was originally from Maine, where he had a
thriving lumber business and store. He moved to Eagle Creek in 1847 to supply
provisions for settlers on the Oregon Trail and opened a second sawmill. These
sawmills were crucial for the development of the communities of the region.
The model recently acquired by the farm is a later model
from the early 20th century. Foster shipped his original sawmill from Hawaii in
the mid-19th century.
The grand opening will have a 2 p.m. dedication of the
exhibit and ribbon cutting attended by Clackamas County commissioners. Food and
beverages will be available. Admission is $5 for individuals or $20 for a
family. No reservations are required. Admission is free to Jackknife-Zion-Horseheaven
Historical Society members and Clackamas County Historic Pass holders.
Foster Farm is a reproduction of the site Philip Foster
originally settled in Eagle Creek. The facility has been open since 1993 and
offers school tours and summer camps for kids to experience life in region
during the mid-19th century.
Although the sawmill has been installed at its new home, the
historic site is still in the process of returning it to working order.
“If there are any volunteers interested in being involved
with the restoration of the sawmill please contact the farm,” Butler said.
More information is available online at
https://philipfosterfarm.com/farm-events/sawmill-grand-opening-may-14-2022/.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| The Scene on Stage: May features two shows posted on 05/01/2022
Justin Lazenby, director of the Nutz-n-Boltz Theater
Company’s (NNB) May production of “The Dining Room,” once acted in a production
of the comedy during his college years. The play is set in the dining room of a
house over the course of many years, with a cast of six playing 50 different
characters.
“When I was in it, it was fun for that aspect,” Lazenby
said. “You just got to shuffle the cards of all the human interactions that any
one person might have encountered in their life.”
Those human interactions include scenes such as Thanksgiving
with an aging grandmother, a birthday party with small children, adult children
fighting over the house's furnishings and older children needing to live at
home again.
Lazenby noted that the scenes organically flow from one to another
with quick exits and entrances and is a “peppering of 30 different messages” in
an array of different stories.
“It’s one of those shows that has a little something for
everyone, which I really like,” he said.
And while the play offers a lot of humor, it also has some
meaningful moments that will touch the audience.
“It’s funny, but at the same time there’s a lot of life in
there,” Lazenby said, noting that the production is appropriate for all ages.
“The comedy comes from having to deal with life, with hard decisions.”
NNB presents “The Dining Room,” by A. R. Gurney, from
Friday, May 20 through Sunday, June 5, 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.
Ticket prices are $12-15, with group discounts available.
For more information, or to make reservations, call 503-593-1295 or visit
nnbtheater.com.
More comedy in Sandy
Sandy Actors Theatre’s May production is the comedy “Welcome
to Paradise,” by Julie Marino, offering the story of Evelyn, who takes what
might be her final trip to her Caribbean beach house but those around her have
other ideas.
The production will run from Friday, May 6 through Sunday,
May 29, at 17433 SE Meinig Avenue in Sandy (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 senior citizens, veterans, and students and $13 for
children (reservations are recommended). For more information, or to make
reservations call 503-936-4378 or visit sandyactorstheatre.org.
A preview night will also be offered at 7 p.m. Thursday, May
5, preceded by the Wy’ East Artisans Guild’s art gallery presentation
“Relationships.” Tickets for the preview are $10 and only available at the
door.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Contributed photo.
A quilt made by five Hoodland piecemakers will be a
semifinalist at the 2022 American Quilter’s Society’s (AQS) QuiltWeek, a
prestigious international quilt show with entries from 43 American states and
15 other countries. The five local quilters who will be recognized at the show
for their collaborative work on the quilt are Patricia Sharp, Charlene
Opperman, Andi Hobgood, Jean Ludeman and Darlene McKinney.
“It’s going to be pretty exciting to be there with all these
amazing quilts. It’s quite the recognition,” Ludeman said.
The 2022 AQS show will be held April 27-30 at the Schroeder
Expo and Carroll Convention Center in Paducah, Ky. The annual contest, now in
its 36th year, will feature works from 406 contestants. Awards will be given in
16 categories along with nine overall awards. Cash prizes totaling $125,000
will be awarded. All semi-finalist’s quilts will be displayed at the show for
an audience of more than 30,000 expected attendees.
The five found the inspiration for their quilt, titled
“First Run at Timberline Lodge,” from a watercolor painting called “First Run”
by local artist Steve Ludeman, depicting Timberline Lodge on a wintry morning.
“We’ll be able to showcase Timberline to those out in the
east,” his wife, Jean, said.
Each piecemaker created and quilted a panel, that when hung
together replicates the painting of the lodge.
The quilt is 60 inches by 43 inches with each piecemaker
contributing a 12-inch by 43-inch section in which they showcase their
individual interpretation of the painting through fabric selection and
technique.
“It’s tricky getting everything to line up,” Opperman said.
“I think it turned out pretty good for five people working together on one big
project.”
The five quilters met as members of the local “Piecemakers”
quilting group of approximately 20 local quilters who meet every Thursday at
the Hoodland Lutheran Church. They began working on the project in 2020 but
shelved the quilt for a period during the pandemic before rejoining and
completing the work in 2021.
“COVID kind of got in the way,” Ludeman said.
The group entered the quilt in regional shows in 2021 and
won “Viewer’s Choice” at the Columbia River Gorge Quilt Show in October 2021.
“When the quilt turned out so well, we thought we’d take a
chance and submit it for (the AQS QuiltWeek) show,” Ludeman said.
“AQS has a longstanding history of having the best of the
best quilts in our contests,” stated AQS President Bill Schroeder in a press
release.
“This year’s contest is no exception, and these quilts are
truly exceptional,” he added.
Members of the group will attend the show in Kentucky and
winners will be announced at the AQS Awards Presentation on Tuesday, April 26
before the show.
The piecemakers are looking for a permanent home for their
quilt to be displayed in the community after it is returned from Paducah.
They have not yet determined if they will collaborate on
more challenging group projects.
“Getting five people to agree on every little thing; that’s
definitely working,” Opperman said. “It’s a great group of people to work
with.”
More information is available online at
www.AmericanQuilter.com.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Spring Garden Fair gets the green light after two years off posted on 04/01/2022
Sharon Andrews has seen some signs about more people getting
involved in gardening, including taking walks around her neighborhood and
noticing the time and energy people have put into their houses during the
pandemic.
Those budding gardeners (and any others interested in
plants) will have the chance to really kick things into gear at the 36th Spring
Garden Fair, held by the Clackamas County Master Gardener™ Association on
Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1 at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds and
Event Center.
The two-day event has drawn more than 7,000 people in the
past (but was not held for the past two years due to the pandemic), and this
year’s fair will feature 120 vendors offering plants, garden art, containers,
tools, amendments and more.
“We’re super happy” said Andrews, who does publicity for the
fair.
The fair started in 1984 when a member wanted to start a
scholarship for students studying plants at community college, resulting in a
fuschia sale. The event continues on with its charitable roots, being put on by
only volunteers and with proceeds going to the association. Local school
children also help raise money with “plant taxis,” wagons leased to people so
they can easily cart their new plants and more around.
“The whole thing is based on fundraising for all sorts of
people,” Andrews said.
The event will also feature a food court, a raffle, Master
Gardener activities, a potting station and more. Admission is $5, with free
parking.
Fair hours will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9
a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The Clackamas County Fairgrounds and Event Center is
located at 694 NE 4th Ave. in Canby. The fairground is a smoke-free facility,
and no pets are allowed – service dogs only, please.
For more information, visit www.springgardenfair.org and
www.cmastergardeners.org or find the fair's page on Facebook.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Hoodland Fire receives grant money for Govy fire prevention posted on 04/01/2022
The Hoodland Fire District (HFD) received a grant from the
Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in February for wildland fire preparation
work in Government Camp. The Small Forestland Firewise® USA grant awarded
$75,000 to the district for work to improve the defensibility and survivability
of structures in the community during the occurrence of a wildland fire.
“With this kind of preparation, the chances of the wildfire
taking out a house are very minimal,” HFD Division Chief/Fire Marshal Scott
Kline said.
The grant money will be utilized to create 30-foot defensive
parameters around structures in Government Camp to increase the likelihood of
the buildings withstanding a wildland fire.
The grant application states the work will include “the
removal of brush, small diameter coniferous and alder regeneration in the
understory, and pruning within approximately 30 feet of the primary structure
on each property as well as along the driveway.”
Trees that are dead or dying and are considered hazardous
near houses will also be removed by certified arborists as part of the project.
The work will be performed by ODF crews, HFD personnel and
private contractors. Community members can contact the Government Camp Community
Planning Organization to get added to a list of properties that HFD will assess
for the project.
After being approved by HFD for the funding, property owners
can submit receipts for work performed by contractors. HFD will provide before
and after photos of qualifying sites to the grant program.
The grant is funded by Firewise® USA, a national program
that assists communities to prepare for wildfires. The grant money will be
utilized in Government Camp because it is the only Firewise® community
currently active in the district.
Kline stated the clean-up project will begin later this
spring and continue through the fall.
The district will also engage in educational outreach in
Government Camp as part of the grant. Outreach activities will include creating
incentives for fuel reduction on properties as well as the development and
distribution of a brochure detailing open burn regulations within the fire
district and Clackamas County.
In addition, the grant money will be used to increase the
number of address markers throughout the village to assist emergency responders
in locating properties in the event of an emergency.
The grant application states that HFD will “work to develop
an action plan that guides Government Camp’s residential risk reduction activities,
while engaging and encouraging community members to become active participants
in building a safer place to live in an area prone to wildfires.”
HFD will be discussing Firewise® membership with other
communities in the Mount Hood area this spring and arranging meetings for
community groups with the ODF, the agency that manages Firewise® in the state.
The Rhododendron Community Planning Organization, Timberline Rim, and Zig Zag
Village have all previously participated in the wildland fire preparation program.
More information is available online at
https://www.hoodlandfire.us/how-to-prepare-your-home-for-wildfires.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Mount Hood Chamber resumes in-person meetings posted on 04/01/2022
The Mt. Hood Area Chamber of Commerce was set to resume
in-person meetings in January, when the pandemic took a turn for the worse and
the chamber held off once again. But with the coronavirus waning, in-person
meetings are now on the agenda, and fortunately for the chamber, January’s
scheduled speaker will be able to kick things off in April.
Jason Brandt, President and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant and
Lodging Association (ORLA), will offer a picture into the state of Oregon’s
hospitality industry with the latest available trends and data at the Tuesday,
April 5 meeting, held at 10 a.m. at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort, 68010 E.
Fairway Avenue in Welches.
“Oregon’s hospitality industry is vast with varying business
models and types,” he explained in an email to The Mountain Times. “The way the
pandemic felt varied greatly based on the business type of the operator and
where the operator’s business is located in the state.”
Brandt noted that staffing challenges remain a constant in
the industry and hopes that consumers can be patient as businesses attempt to
resume full service, while continuing to embrace dining and to go services.
“Pending any major wildfire challenges Oregon could have a
significant rebirth this summer after two plus years of pandemic anxiety,”
Brandt continued. “The best case scenario would be record sales and top level
demand for Oregon’s restaurant and lodging locations so our operators can
continue working to pay down the debt they took on to stay in business during
the pandemic. Paying down debt will be a major behind the scenes focus for many
of our establishments post pandemic.”
He noted that the trend towards mobile and flexible work
plans created new opportunities and changed the dynamics of the industry, with
some regions benefiting while others didn’t.
“A number of Oregon’s coastal, gorge, and valley markets saw
record sales months during periods of the pandemic,” Brandt wrote. “Others more
reliant on business and conference travel like Portland took a hard hit and
continue their recovery process. We have certainly seen a tale of two realities
within the hospitality industry over the course of the past two years.”
“I’m excited to see everyone again,” wrote Coni Scott,
co-president for the chamber, in an email.
“Many of us have not been working with one another these
last two years and now are excited to get back in the loop,” she added
For more information on the chamber, visit
https://www.mthoodchamber.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Second installment of 'Queens Girl' at CRT posted on 04/01/2022
Portland actor, musician and writer Lauren Steele was ready
to perform the one-woman show “Queens Girl in Africa,” by Caleen Sinnette
Jennings, last fall at Clackamas Repertory Theater (CRT) when the pandemic took
a turn for the worse and the production was delayed. This month, Steele’s
performance as Jacqueline Marie Butler and 17 other memorable characters can be
enjoyed by theatergoers as the show will go on.
“It’s been a really cool experience to have something
marinating in your mind for months and months,” Steele said, adding that while
this is her first time back as an actor due to the pandemic, she has also been
working on her musical endeavors, including a new album and a single that’s now
available on music platforms.
“Queens Girl in Africa” is the second play in the “Queens
Girl in the World” trilogy, and Steele also tackled the first play in 2019 at
CRT, winning a Drammy award for Best Solo Performance.
The second play picks up with Butler as she finds herself at
a crossroads of personal and political upheaval when her family abruptly moves
to Nigeria following the assassination of civil rights leader Malcolm X, a
close family friend.
Steele played more than a dozen characters in the first
installment, and noted that she’s spent time on the characterization of the
array of characters in “Queens Girl in Africa,” with the biggest challenge in
tackling a variety of African dialects.
“We have the comfort of some of the same archetypes as last
time, (but) different circumstances and personalities,” she said, adding the
only characters that appear in both plays are Butler and her parents.
Steele sees parallels between the play and the world around
us, as Butler has to deal with different aspects of her identity within the
larger context of war and political upheaval.
“I think that’s kind of where we’re at now,” she said. “I
hope people walk away with some comfort in that it’s not the first time we’ve
been through something like this. What you’re feeling is okay and you’re not
alone.”
Steele also noted that the audience will also enjoy the
humor in the play.
“I hope people have a whole lot of fun,” she said.
CRT presents “Queens Girl in Africa,” by Caleen Sinnette
Jennings and directed by Damaris Webb, through Sunday, April 24, at the Osterman
Theatre 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 $40 for adults and seniors and $30
for youth (ages 6-25).
For more information, visit clackamasrep.org or call
503-594-6047. A free pre-show lecture will be held one hour before the Sunday
matinees on April 3, 10 and 24.
Music in Boring
Americana singer Larry Wilder will be back this month at the
Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company (NNB) in Boring for a weekend of music. Wilder,
who performed last April at NNB, spent much of time since then working on a
variety of cruise lines, including a ship docked in The Dalles for the Fourth
of July.
“I’m so glad to be doing this,” Wilder said about his NNB
performances.
He noted that the last two years have given him a chance to
evolve as a performer. Wilder’s approach is to try and make a connection and
engage with the audience through his songs (and jokes).
“Without question, the pandemic gave us pause to reflect on
everything, family relationships, personal philosophy and faith,” he said.
Wilder doesn’t plan on mentioning the pandemic (or politics)
in his performance, but will focus on the songs, ranging from The Kingston Trio
to Harry Belafonte to John Denver to Rodgers and Hart and more.
“The song stories are phenomenal,” he said. “I want to keep
the people having fun; make them feel part of the great American musical
heritage. I’m pretty lucky to get to do this.”
NNB presents Larry Wilder at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 2 and
Sunday, April 3 at the Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in Boring. Tickets
are available at the door or online. The performance will consist of two
45-minute sets with one intermission and is appropriate for audience members of
all ages. For more information, or to make reservations, call 503-593-1295 or
visit nnbtheater.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Volunteers needed to help clean up around Sandy posted on 04/01/2022
According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
Journal, approximately 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth
Day, a day of peaceful demonstrations to promote environmental reform, held on
April 22, 1970.
This year, the City of Sandy and SOLVE will hold a cleanup
event on Saturday, April 23, hoping to make a difference for the local
environment. Carol Cohen, the city’s Event Coordinator, has a target of 100
people participating.
“It’s a great community event,” Cohen said, noting that last
year the event brought out 50 volunteers, while it was not held in 2020 due to
the pandemic. “I think people are ready to give back to the community. It just
makes people feel really good.”
The event will be held between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and feature
trash clean up and invasive species removal at parks, trails and other public
places. Cohen noted there are a variety of different sites (such as Meinig
Park, Tickle Creek and the downtown corridor) that volunteers can choose from
based on the time they have available.
“If you want to do the main street corridor, that might take
45 minutes to an hour,” she said.
Volunteers of all ages are welcome, but Cohen noted that
they should be prepared for working in any kind of weather and bring
closed-toed shoes and warm clothing. Bags, grabbers and other equipment will be
provided (although it is helpful if volunteers can bring their own gloves, if
possible).
Volunteers are encouraged to register prior to the event at
https://www.solveoregon.org, but they can also register the day of.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Contributed photo.
Gresham’s Luke Winters’ early memories of skiing involve
him, his brother and his father heading up to Skibowl, parking their camper in
the lot and hitting the slopes.
“Night skiing at Skibowl was probably the biggest one for us
when we were young,” Winters said. “Almost every weekend we’d be up there and
we’d ski until the lights turned off.”
Last month, Winters represented Mount Hood, Gresham and his
country at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. And while the first-time
Olympian was unable to finish his runs on the slalom and giant slalom courses,
he came away from the games without looking back and wishing he had done
anything different.
“I knew I was skiing well, things were going well for me,”
Winters said, adding that he had his best World Cup results in the weeks
leading up to the Olympics. “Once I get to the start, it’s just the same as any
other race. I was really not nervous at all in the start gate.”
Winters, who graduated from the Sugar Bowl Academy in
California, added that in his earlier years, he also played baseball and
football, but realized early in high school that ski racing would be his focus.
Being an Olympic athlete and racing in the World Cup were on his radar in high
school but started to become real after he graduated.
“That was the goal, but at the same time, I didn’t have this
crazy dream from a young age,” he said. “I was good, I was talented and I
worked hard. It didn’t really become obtainable until after high school.”
For the Olympics, he and his teammates expected the course
(one made specifically for this event and featuring man-made snow) would have
conditions similar to skiing in Colorado early in the ski season, with cold and
dry snow.
“When we got there, everyone was caught off guard a little
bit,” he continued, noting it lacked any texture. “The snow was super dry,
there’s no friction at all.”
Winters said that the first day he struggled but made
adjustments to his equipment and ended up feeling really good on the hill.
“Some people never figured the snow out,” he said. “I felt
super confident going into the races.”
Unfortunately, his runs ended in disappointment.
“I didn’t expect the speed going into the top,” Winters
said. “In ski racing, things just happen so fast.”
Winters’ final run was delayed by a day, but that lead to
the opportunity for him to enjoy the closing ceremony (he arrived in China
after the opening ceremony), making for a memorable experience.
“You don’t really realize (it’s) the world really coming
together when you’re up competing,” he said. “That’s really why the Olympics
are so special, you see everyone. Everyone is in the same place, all the flags.
That really was actually pretty cool and special.”
Unfortunately, Winters was unable to have any family members
join him in China due to restrictions, with only coaches and staff allowed. But
he did note that it’s not uncommon for him to not have his parents on hand
during the World Cup seasons.
“They don’t make it over very often anyways,” he said.
“Obviously it would have been awesome to have them there.”
Immediately after the games, Winters was off to Germany for
his next World Cup event at the end of February, while noting he was grateful
for the chance to get back to racing.
“There’s so much focus on the Olympics for the U.S., people
who really do know about ski racing know World Cups are just as competitive,”
he said. “That’s really what we’re here to do.”
The current World Cup season is past the halfway point, with
races in Austria, Slovenia and elsewhere before the finals in France at the end
of March. Winters will need to be in the top 25 of the standings to be in the
finals.
Winters is focused on the World Cup, with the 2026 Olympics
in Italy not on his mind. He noted that the location will be a familiar one for
skiers and they will have a great understanding of the conditions before the
races start.
“It almost feels like a home Olympics,” he said.
For more information on how to view World Cup races, visit
NBCSports.com. Luke Winters can be found on Instagram as “lukedwinters.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Mobile breast cancer screening clinic to visit Sandy posted on 03/01/2022
When Tami Beaty first discovered her breast cancer she found
it by accident. Now after her personal struggle with the disease, this breast
cancer survivor is helping provide Mount Hood area women with easy access to
cancer screening through her role coordinating a visit from a mobile
mammography program to Sandy in March.
“Women often think that if what they’re feeling is small
that it’s probably nothing,” said Beaty, the volunteer event coordinator for Sandy’s
Seventh-day Adventist Church. “I think it’s really important for women to
understand that catching stuff early makes a world of difference. Don’t skip
your mammogram.”
The Oregon Health & Science University’s (OHSU) Health
Hillsboro Medical Center Mobile Mammography Program will be offering screenings
by appointment at Sandy’s Seventh Day Adventist Church, 18575 Southeast
Langensand Road, Sandy on Wednesday, March 30.
This will be the first visit to Sandy by the mobile program,
which aims to provide convenient access to mammograms closer to home and work,
and serve as a “fast and effective alternative” for women to receive their
regular screenings.
The OHSU van is the only mobile mammography program in
Oregon that provides 3-D mammography (Digital Breast Tomosynthesis) to
communities in the Mount Hood area.
The van has been recently updated with individual dressing
rooms and an emphasis on personal privacy. All screenings are performed by a
female technologist. OHSU radiologists review the images and results are
delivered to patient’s primary care physicians.
“(The program) is very discrete, very private and very safe.
It’s as safe as going to the hospital,” Beaty said. “Sandy is a growing
community. We need services like this out here for people who don’t have
access, and so people don’t have to drive into town.”
Individuals must be at least 35 years old to be eligible for
the screening and have gone one full year since their last screening.
Participants must not be pregnant or have breast fed in the past three months
and should have no known lumps, pain or discharge.
The program accepts most insurance plans including Medicare,
Oregon Health Plan and programs for low-income individuals including ScreenWise
and Project Access. Kaiser Permanente insurance is not accepted by the program.
The Sandy Seventh-day Adventist Church is planning on
hosting the clinic quarterly for the community.
“If this clinic fills up, we’ll offer it every other month,”
Beaty said.
The program is part of a larger public health outreach
program on part of the Sandy church.
The organization is also hosting a vision clinic on March 6.
The church will be offering a diabetes clinic and a depression and anxiety
recovery program in the coming months.
Appointments can be made by contacting Beaty by phone at
503-698-4622. 17 appointments are being offered for the initial visit of the
mammography program with exams currently still available.
For more information on the upcoming event visit https://www.sandyadventistchurch.org.
More information on the mobile mammography program is
available online at
https://tuality.org/hospital-services/breast-health-services/mobile_mammography/.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
|  Contributed photo.
Sandy High School junior Denali Barrett noted she comes from
a musical family, with her parents singing to her since she was young.
But last month, Barrett, who sings with the high school
chorus and has taken lesson since she was eight, had the unique experience of
singing at Carnegie Hall in New York City as part of the High School Honors
Treble Choir concert.
“I don’t think I had any expectations,” she said. “I knew
everybody there was going to be super talented, so I was looking forward to
that. It turned out really awesome.”
The opportunity arose last summer when she found out about
the concert, produced by WorldStrides, an educational travel and experiences
organization that offers a number of programs, including in the performing
arts. Barrett, 17, recorded her audition, sent it off and found out a month
later that she was selected, noting that just 1,400 singers out of 15,000 made
the cut.
“It's kind of weird. What's the likelihood to get in?” she
said.
Barrett received the pieces she would perform in early
December to learn them prior to her arrival in New York. Once in the Big Apple
she rehearsed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with her group, consisting of 90 young
women, before the Feb. 6 concert.
After rehearsals, Barret (who was visiting New York for the
first time) took part in a planned activity, including going to a Broadway
show, a private yacht on the Hudson River and a visit to the top of the Rockefeller
Center.
“New York is super overwhelming, but I love cities so it was
really cool,” she said, noting the buildings are “massive.” “The concert itself
was the best part for sure. Other than that, the yacht ride was pretty cool.”
Barrett noted that when the group arrived at Carnegie Hall
and performed their sound check, the acoustics of the space were notable,
particularly after rehearsing in a room at a hotel.
“You could hear all the sounds and the voices envelop you,”
she said, adding that she enjoyed all the music they sang, but her favorite was
“As the Rain Hides the Stars” due to the harmonies.
Barrett’s parents made the trip with her, and her mom,
Julie, noted that they enjoyed exploring the city, including visits to Central
Park, the Natural History Museum, the 9/11 memorial, while also reflecting on
what it was like seeing her daughter on stage at Carnegie Hall.
“Are there any words? Overwhelming, amazing, proud,” Julie
said. “I know my girl’s going places.”
Denali plans on studying music in college, and in the
meantime, she’s planning on auditioning for the AllStars group at the Portland
School of Rock, where she has studied.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| TIP NW offers training academy for new recruits posted on 03/01/2022
Each month Jami Schroeder and other Trauma Intervention
Program NW (TIP NW) volunteers offer 40 hours of immediate support to their
fellow citizens in crisis during the hours of their greatest need. The
volunteer organization is contacted by law enforcement, fire, medical and
hospital personnel to respond to the scene of a traumatic event and provide
“emotional aid and practical support and resources to victims of traumatic
events and their families in the first few hours following a tragedy.”
“No one should be alone in the hardest times of their life,”
said Schroeder, Crisis Team Manager for TIP NW.
TIP NW will hold a volunteer training academy at the end of
March at the Portland Fire and Rescue Training Center, 4800 Northeast 122
Avenue, Portland and is seeking new volunteers for their organization.
The 60-hour training academy is held over a two-week period
from Wednesday, March 23 until Wednesday, April 6. After the two-week training
academy, volunteers enter a three-month field training program during which
they are paired with a veteran TIP NW volunteer responder before graduating as
a TIP volunteer.
“(This training) ensures that all volunteers are well
prepared and ready to respond to citizens in crisis with confidence and
assurance,” the TIP NW website states.
“It’s an opportunity to support people in your community and
help people on their very worst day,” said Sally Chester, TIP NW volunteer
responder in the Hoodland Fire District.
“We want as many people who are qualified and have the heart
to volunteer in the community as possible,” Chester added.
Volunteers respond to the scenes of “sudden or unexpected
death (natural, homicide, suicide, accidental, infant), industrial accidents,
sexual assaults, violent crimes and other traumatic incidents,” according to
the TIP NW website.
“We’re there to help with the immediacy of the event,”
Schroeder said.
Volunteers are automatically activated by the emergency
response center after first responders submit a request and respond to the
scene in pairs.
“We maintain a 20-minute response time, and volunteers are
generally responding from their homes,” Schroeder said.
TIP NW offers a teen volunteer program and encourages high
school students interested in supporting their community to register for the
academy.
TIP NW detailed that the requirements for volunteering and
registering in the academy include:
– $50.00 registration fee, due after talking with TIP Staff
and confirming place in academy.
– COVID-19 vaccination.
– Have a working cell phone (with texting capabilities).
– Have internet access and an email account.
– Have a driver’s license, auto insurance, working vehicle
and GPS navigation system (driver’s license and vehicle not a requirement for
teens).
– Attendance at all sessions of the Training Academy.
– Paperwork, fingerprinting and criminal background
investigation done through TIP before the training (details will be given upon
admittance to academy).
– A copy of your three-year Department of Motor Vehicles
(DMV) Driving Record (available on the DMV website).
– A copy of auto insurance reflecting current coverage.
– Attend all monthly continuing education meetings, take
three 12-hour on-call shifts per month and sign a one-year contract upon
completion of three-month field training program.
To register for the training academy or for more information
contact TIP NW by phone at (503) 823-3937 or online at www.tipnw.org.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Park District moves on to May ballot posted on 03/01/2022
The proposed Hoodland Park District will move forward to the
May ballot after Clackamas County Commissioners approval at the Thursday, Feb.
3 meeting, which was held virtually. The commissioners did modify the proposal
by removing the communities within the 97028 zip code, including Government
Camp, Wapanitia and Summit Meadows, after members of those communities
expressed the desire to be removed.
“We’re very happy that it made it to the ballot because we
believe that people in the Mountain communities want to be able to vote on it,”
said Marci Slater, one of the district’s chief petitioners. “We’re excited
about the next three months where we can have an open conversation about what
this means for our community, the great opportunity that is before us.”
Slater noted that plans are underway to hold townhall
meetings and rallies to help spread information about the proposed district.
If formed, the district would receive three parcels of land
on Salmon River Road from Clackamas County and would develop the Dorman Center
site as a community park, with possible amenities including a pavilion,
playground, walking trails, extended community garden, bike pump track, skate
park, dog park, space for farmers market, restrooms and onsite security.
The district would be funded by a local property tax,
proposed to be a maximum of 67 cents per $1,000 of assessed value (resulting in
approximately $200 per year on a house with an assessed value of $300,000).
If the district wins voter approval, it will be overseen by
a board of five volunteer directors, who will also be elected on the May
ballot. Anyone interested in filing as a candidate for the district’s board
must do so through the county by Tuesday, March 8.
“They won’t have much time to file,” Slater said. “Anyone
can file; the more the merrier. Having a choice is good.”
Those who are interested can go to the elections website at
https://www.clackamas.us/elections and find the link for the May election to
find more information on how to file. She added that the hope is that the board
will be comprised by members of the various communities within the district’s
boundaries.
Slater noted that she is aware of two people who plan on
filing, although she will not. She added that those elected to the first board
of directors will be very hard work.
“It will be like setting up a company,” she said. “The first
couple years will be organizational and policy based.”
Other important dates prior to the May election include
Thursday, March 10 for voter’s pamphlets candidate’s statements and Monday,
March 21 for voter pamphlet arguments for/against.
Updates on the park district, including planned events, can
be found on the Nextdoor app and on the district’s website,
https://www.hoodlandparkdistrict.us/.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Renewed CPO made official, March meeting next posted on 03/01/2022
More than a dozen community members attended a virtual
meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 16, where they approved the reactivation of a
Community Planning Organization (CPO) for a number of Mountain communities,
from Lolo Pass Road to Cherryville Road. The CPO, which is expected to garner
an official name at a future meeting, will receive land use applications from
the county and provide feedback, along with serving as a venue for discussion
of community issues.
“I feel it's really important,” said Nora Gambee, who was
elected as the CPO’s chair at the meeting. “I want to make sure that things are
going to happen that are going to benefit the community. We are going to listen
to the community and the community is going to have input.”
All residents, property owners and business owners within
the CPO’s boundaries are counted as members. The CPO will have its next meeting
virtually at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 17. A link will be available at
https://www.clackamas.us/community/cpo.html.
Gambee, who is also currently on the board of directors of
the Hoodland Fire District, noted she was a prior member of the Mt. Hood
Corridor CPO, the organization that ceased operations approximately ten years
ago, and wants to see more control over what’s happening with land on the
Mountain.
“People are clearing land and not doing anything,” said
Gambee, who has lived in the area for 35 years. “I care about what happens to
it and the people in it; we have some pretty wonderful people in the
community.”
Other members of the new CPO’s board of directors were
elected at the February meeting, including David Lythgoe as the vice chair,
Marti Bowne as the secretary, Patricia Erdenberger as the treasurer and Jenni
Rogers as an at-large director.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Nutz-n-Boltz has a play to remember posted on 03/01/2022
Jay Hash, the director of the Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company’s
(NNB) March production of “Fuddy Mears,” has a long history with the show,
which he first encountered during his high school years. At that time, he
competed in speech and debate and even went to the state tournament, and every
step along the way a competitor would recite a ten-minute abridged version of
the play for the “humorous interpretation” competition.
“This play has been haunting me forever,” Hash said.
Hash went on to direct a smaller version of the show in a
class, then finally saw a full production of it during a visit to the Oregon
Shakespeare Festival. Now, Hash, a 2006 graduate from the University of Oregon,
has taken the helm to offer the story of Claire, a woman who wakes each morning
with no memory of the previous day and who relies on her husband and son to
remind her. But Claire’s world is shaken when a mysterious man who claims to be
her husband arrives and has murder on his mind.
“I think it’s a very powerful story, a very well-crafted and
thought-out story,” Hash said, noting that the production has taken some
inspiration from the work of David Lynch, particularly his television show
“Twin Peaks.” “It lends itself really well (to that interpretation).”
Hash added that he and his cast are putting a focus on
keeping the characters as realistic as possible, as he sees overdramatizing
them as a potential pitfall to diminish the play’s message. He also noted the
comedy does touch on some tricky subject matters, but that he hopes people will
be able to laugh and learn at the same time.
“If people come in with an open mind I think they’ll be
thoroughly entertained as well as enlightened,” Hash said.
In addition to following Hash for most of his life, this
production of the show has taken its twists and turns. Initially offered to
Hash at NNB four years ago, the show was pushed out when Mount Hood Community
College scheduled it, then again when Sandy Actors Theater produced it and
finally delayed again due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’ve been waiting for so long to be able to put this thing
on,” Hash said.
NNB presents “Fuddy Meers,” by David Lindsay-Abaire, from
March 4-20, 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 $10 for law enforcement. For more
information, or to make reservations, call 503-593-1295 or visit
nnbtheater.com.
Auditions for May show
NNB will also hold auditions for the spring production of
“The Dining Room,” by A. R. Gurney, from 7-9 p.m. Monday, March 7 and Tuesday,
March 8, at the Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in Boring. The cast includes
three men and three women and auditions will consist of cold readings from the
script.
Performers need to be COVID vaccinated before auditioning.
Headshots/resumes encouraged but not required. For more information call
503-593-1295 or visit nnbtheater.com.
Comedy continues in Sandy
The Sandy Actors Theatre continues its production of “Things
My Mother Taught Me,” by Katherine DiSavino, through Sunday, March 20, at 17433
SE Meinig Avenue in Sandy (behind Ace Hardware). The comedy offers the story of
Olivia and Game, who move into an apartment together but complications arise
when both sets of parents show up. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and
Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays. For more information or to make reservations
call 503-936-4378 or visit sandyactorstheatre.org.
College production in March
Clackamas Community College’s (CCC) theater department
offers a production of “Red Herring,” by Michael Hollinger, the story of Boston
gumshoe Maggie Pelletier, who has to nose around the “red herrings” of who
dumped a body in the harbor in this tribute to the classic noir detective
story.
Show times for “Red Herring” are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday,
March 3 through Saturday, March 5, and a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday, March 6,
at the Niemeyer Osterman Theatre, 19600 Molalla Ave. in Oregon City. There will
also be a 10 a.m. matinee Friday, March 4.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (62+) and $6 for
students (free for CCC students). Tickets are discounted $1 if purchased
online. Visit www.clackamas.edu/theatre or call 503-594-3153 for reservations.
Seating is limited and masks are required.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Park District decision pushed to Feb. 3 by Commissioners posted on 02/01/2022
After three January hearings to listen to public testimony,
including one interrupted by anti-vaccination rabble rousers, the Clackamas
County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) will make a final decision on
whether to send the Hoodland Park District to the May ballot at the Thursday,
Feb. 3 business meeting.
Some commissioners expressed their support for the district
towards the end of the Jan. 20 meeting, but with a modification to the proposed
boundaries to remove the communities within the 97028 zip code, including
Government Camp, Wapanitia and Summit Meadows.
“We still feel like we’ve got good momentum toward moving
toward the election,” said Marci Slater, one of the district’s chief
petitioners. “We’re looking forward to bringing some local control to decisions
on what the Mountain community needs.”
If formed, the district would receive three parcels of land
on Salmon River Road from Clackamas County and would develop the Dorman Center
site as a community park. Possible amenities could include a pavilion,
playground, walking trails, extended community garden, bike pump track, skate
park, dog park, space for farmers market, restrooms and onsite security.
The district would be funded by a local property tax,
proposed to be a maximum of 67 cents per $1,000 of assessed value (resulting in
approximately $200 per year on a house with an assessed value of $300,000).
Slater noted that while there were questions regarding the
district’s mill rate, organizers remain confident in their projected funding,
with a proposed budget based on a rate of 57 cents per $1,000 of assessed
value.
“We did some additional research, looking at other
standalone park districts and districts part of small communities,” she said.
“We feel very confident that we’re right in the middle of all that.”
The proposed district met with resistance from those in the
97028 communities, who noted the distance to the Dorman Center site, higher
property taxes, no planned facilities for those communities and not being
included in the petition process among the reasons for wanting to be excluded
from the district’s boundaries.
Nick Rinard, president of the Government Camp Community
Planning Organization (CPO), noted that after a meeting more than two years ago
that began the conversation of the district, the pandemic disrupted
communication and the community felt left out.
“It’s just a shame it got compressed because the petitioners
turned in the petition before we had a meeting,” he said, noting the organizers
had to meet a November deadline to get the petition for the district in to the
county.
A survey conducted by the CPO of those in the 97028
communities revealed 84 percent of respondents opposed formation of the
district. Rinard credited Jake Thompson, who spearheaded the CPO’s subcommittee
that conducted the survey, for gathering the data.
“This was not spun in any way for or against,” Rinard said.
“We were just genuinely concerned, what did the community feel, what were their
thoughts. Once revealed, it became my job to represent that opinion of the
community.”
If approved by the commissioners, the district will be
overseen by a board of five volunteer directors, who will also be elected on
the May ballot.
Slater said the district’s organizers will be out to rally the
community before the May vote, as long as the pandemic allows it. She noted
that they hope to hold rallies, town hall meetings and more.
Updates on the park district, including planned events, can
be found on the Nextdoor app and on the district’s website,
https://www.hoodlandparkdistrict.us/.
“I’m excited about the process; I’m looking forward to
moving ahead,” Slater said.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Community rallies for fresh start to CPO posted on 02/01/2022
Approximately 10 years ago, the Mt. Hood Corridor Community
Planning Organization (CPO) ceased operations, leaving communities such as
Welches, Wemme, Zigzag and more without an official voice to offer opinions on
land use to Clackamas County. Development has not stopped however, and next
month community members will gather by Zoom at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16 to
start a new CPO and take on this important role.
“The real importance is getting the word out for proposed
developments; getting full community input, rather than just immediate
neighbors,” said David Lythgoe, who served as president of the former CPO and
has been part of the effort to form the new one. “I’ve been happy and surprised
with the amount of community interest. I hope it continues after formation.”
The proposed boundaries of the new CPO (which has yet to
have an official name) would include communities from Lolo Pass Road to
Cherryville Road, with all residents, property owners and business owners as
its membership. The CPO will be run by a board of directors.
Katie Wilson, Clackamas County Community Engagement
Coordinator, noted in an email to The Mountain Times that if voters are successful
in starting the new CPO, members will proceed with nominating and voting in a
board and then revising their bylaws at future meetings.
She added that CPOs receive land-use notifications to review
and must convene at least twice a year while following public meeting laws. The
bylaws will determine the number of board members, their roles and the
elections process.
If the CPO is formed, community members at the kick-off
meeting will nominate and vote for initial board members.
Any member of the proposed CPO can join the meeting by
registering in advance at
https://www.clackamas.us/event/mt-hood-community-meeting.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| First stage of rest area by Summit on CPO agenda posted on 02/01/2022
On the eastside of Government Camp, right next to Summit Ski
Area, is a rest area, offering public bathrooms for visitors, but also in need
of upgrades. That possibility could become a reality sometime in the future,
thanks to efforts by Oregon Solutions (OS), a program created by Oregon’s
Sustainability Act in 2001 that fosters collaborative governance through
partnerships with various organizations, and numerous area agencies and
stakeholders.
Manuel Padilla, a project manager for Oregon Solutions, will
take part in the Government Camp Community Planning Organization’s (CPO)
meeting on Friday, Feb. 11 to provide an update on where things stand. The
meeting will be held via Zoom.
“The community really is appreciative of Oregon Solutions
having one of its main goals to engage with the local community,” said Nick
Rinard, president of the CPO. “That’s really what the community is asking for.”
The project started in 2020, when OS conducted a series of
interviews and found various stakeholders, including the U.S. Forest Service,
Clackamas County and more, expressed interest in improving transit to the
Mountain and the rest area.
“We’ve found strong agreement and alignment that status quo
is not workable going forward — that the needs and current uses of the rest
area have outgrown what that facility was designed for initially — but we’ve
also agreed that figuring out how to move forward, where the rest area function
might best be located, and how that work would be funded is going to take some
careful study and planning, and the goodwill of all the players and partners,”
noted Doug Decker, a project manager, in an email to The Mountain Times.
Decker explained that the first step was to identify Phase
1-type work that would be necessary to explore the feasibility of a move,
potential locations and functions for the rest area, and they submitted a
Federal Land Access Program (FLAP) proposal in the fall of 2021 to fund
feasibility and concept study work. Word on the grant funding is expected
sometime this spring.
“We’ve also been working to clarify and outline the roles
and responsibilities of the various agencies and partners and to identify the
commitments each are able to make to the project,” Decker continued, noting
that the current rest area was previously operated by the Oregon Department of
Transportation until 2012, while the facility is on USFS land and is operated
by a permit.
In an assessment report released by OS in January 2021, they
noted that none of the various organizations linked to the current rest area
see themselves in a lead role for a possible project.
“The community of Government Camp and the local businesses
rely on the restrooms at the rest area, so any change needs to be carefully
thought out and timed with some type of pedestrian restroom that can serve the
Government Camp area,” Decker added.
The assessment report listed a few possible project
elements, including moving the rest area and redeveloping the site of the
current area, development of public restrooms in Government Camp, creating a
pair of rest areas further east from Government Camp and creating a transit hub
or exchange, perhaps including a mass parking facility in the Rhododendron
area.
Decker noted that after a determination on Phase 1 funding
is made, early feasibility and planning work could begin in 12 to 18 months.
“Everyone on the team is interested in moving forward as
quickly as possible with this work, and also recognizes the many unknowns that
remain ahead, including funding, potential relocation sites and important
questions about roles and responsibilities in managing the overall project,” he
wrote. “The team is hard at work on these.”
Decker added that the project is “clearly going to be
several years,” and that the Oregon Travel Information Council will continue to
operate and maintain the existing rest area.
“This seems like a project that has a good chance of
succeeding, whatever form it may take,” Rinard said. “This is a huge
opportunity for Government Camp.”
For more information about Oregon Solutions and the
Government Camp rest area redevelopment, visit https://orsolutions.org/.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| One-stop tech services in Sandy posted on 02/01/2022
Tired of driving to Gresham or further into the Portland
metropolitan area to fix a broken cell phone screen, a faulty laptop or a video
game console on the fritz?
Lifetime Sandy resident Blake Horsfall understands your pain.
Horsfall recently opened a brick and mortar location for his information
technology and electronics repair services business, Restore Hub, in downtown
Sandy to address the Mount Hood community’s technology needs.
“We try to be a one-stop shop no matter the (technology)
issue,” Horsfall said.
Horsfall started Restore Hub out of his house in Sandy in
February 2021. Less than a year later, he relocated the business in January to
a storefront located at 39084 Proctor Boulevard, Unit B in Sandy.
“I love Sandy and have lived here my whole life. It’s
growing and I wanted to be a part of that,” Horsfall said.
Restore Hub offers computer, smart phone and tablet repair,
business information technology services, web design and data recovery. Restore
Hub aims to serve the needs of individuals and small businesses in the region.
“Pretty much anything to do with technology we do it,”
Horsfall said.
Restore Hub is open to walk-in customers 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
Monday through Thursday, and available on Friday and Saturday by appointment.
Horsfall offers consultations for larger projects, such as
website design or creating server networks.
“I try to give a couple approaches to tackling a project,”
Horsfall said.
On-site services are available for customers who need
assistance at their home or business with computer repair or setting up a wi-fi
network.
Horsfall began working in the information technology field
as an IT intern for SandyNet, the City of Sandy’s community internet service
utility. He attended George Fox University, where he received a Computer
Science Degree. While attending school he worked at uBreakiFix cellphone and computer
repair shop in Sherwood.
“I realized I wanted to focus more on repair services during
my time there,” Horsfall said.
Horsfall handles most facets of the business, such as
repairs to website and network design, and partners with national companies for
certain data recovery issues.
Horsfall plans to incorporate a strong retail focus as the
business establishes itself and become more of an electronics store.
Restore Hub is currently an authorized reseller for Dell,
Western Digital hard drives and other technology manufacturers.
“We’re trying to build the business organically and
debt-free. Eventually we’d like to shift to a larger space with more stock,”
Horsfall said. “We’d like to be the local, independently owned service solution
for everyone’s technology needs, from little old ladies to small businesses.”
Restore Hub can be contacted for additional information or
to arrange a consultation by phone at 503-427-8120 or by email at
support@restorehub.tech. Additional information is available online at www.restorehub.tech.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Concepts could lead to enhancements for Mount Hood posted on 02/01/2022
A range of topics surrounding recreation around Mount Hood
and the Columbia River Gorge are at the heart of legislative concepts compiled
by Representative Earl Blumenauer and Senator Ron Wyden. A comment period on
the concepts ended last month, and Janine Kritschgau, Communications Director
for Blumenauer, noted they received 1,027 comments.
“It was a ton,” Kritschgau told The Mountain Times. “We’re
really pleased. It’s excellent to have so much engagement.”
The concept topics included enhancing sustainable and equitable
outdoor recreation, such as relief of crowded trailheads, dispersal of use and
rehabilitation of wildfire-damaged infrastructure; protecting natural features
and improving habitat for wildlife; prioritizing protection of communities at
risk of wildfire damage; ensuring tribal treaty rights are honored and
protected; and modernizing transportation systems.
Kritschgau noted that the comments they received could shift
priorities around somewhat. Some of the steps taken through legislation could
include new additions to the Mount Hood Wilderness, recreation enhancements for
the Pacific Crest Trail, enhanced recreation in the Gorge, enhanced trail
stewardship in the Mount Hood National Forest, new wild and scenic river
designations and enhanced public safety.
Kritschgau added there is no immediate timeline in place for
these legislative concepts and that there "will be many more points for participation
down the road throughout the legislative process, which will include hearings
and more lawmaker meetings."
The concepts did elicite comments from some locals.
“Congressman Blumenauer and Senator Wyden’s proposal has
elements that will please some people but concern others,” said Wilent, a
Rhododendron resident who writes The Woodsman column for The Mountain Times.
“However, they have not yet presented their plan to the federally-chartered Mt.
Hood–Willamette Resource Advisory Committee, of which I’m a member. I urge them
to present it to the committee, which is comprised of 15 people from the
communities around the two forests and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic
Area. I think the committee would like to have a chance to offer its constructive
input.”
For more information, visit https://blumenauer.house.gov/.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Contributed photo.
Hoodland Fire District (HFD) received a new high-axle
emergency response vehicle on Jan. 24 that will certainly turn heads on the
mountain due to a combination of unique appearance and off-road performance
ability.
“It’s a different looking type of vehicle than people are
used to seeing at the station,” HFD Division Chief/Fire Marshall Scott Kline
said.
The high-axle rescue vehicle is made by Earthcruiser, a
boutique RV company from Bend that typically produces approximately 30 custom
overland vehicles each year. The model HFD received is a CORE V8,
cab-over-chassis base model design that is a separate division of the company.
The vehicle was selected for the district by the Oregon Office
of Emergency Management (OEM) as part of a grant program intended to increase
emergency response preparedness across the state.
HFD was awarded the vehicle for use in response to flooding
or high-water events that require evacuating and transporting civilians to
safety. The vehicle is multi-use and will also be used to assist with wildland
fires.
“CORE applications include wilderness firefighting, Homeland
Security, medical response, equipment delivery, mobile laboratories, DIY
overland vehicle builders, and more,” according to the Earthcruiser website.
The district has ordered a custom slip-on fire unit that can
be loaded and unloaded from the chassis with a forklift. The fire unit will be
a combination of a water tank, pump and hose reel. The skid can be unbolted and
traded out with seating on the vehicle in minutes, depending on which
application is required.
“The idea is to augment our brush vehicles or to have an
additional one as needed,” Kline said. HFD applied to receive a high-axle
rescue vehicle through the OEM’s State Preparedness and Incident Response
Equipment (SPIRE) grant in 2019 and received approval in 2020.
The SPIRE grant was established by Oregon State House Bill
2687 and funded $5 million of emergency response equipment across the state.
The grant included an equipment list of eligible items with priority given to
items that are intended to save/sustain lives.
Approximately six of the CORE vehicles were awarded to fire
districts across the state through the grant.
The CORE chassis typically costs just over $100,000 for the
base model according to the Earthcruiser website.
“Due to the grant the vehicle didn’t come out of fire
district money,” Kline said.
For more information contact HFD by email at
hoodland@hoodlandfire.org.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Mom's advice a lesson in comedy posted on 02/01/2022
Joni Tabler, director of the Sandy Actors Theatre’s (SAT)
February production of “Things My Mother Taught Me,” by Katherine DiSavino,
noted some challenges in mounting a play during a pandemic, including
rehearsing in masks and limiting physical contact. And even though the
production’s opening night has been pushed back by the recent surge, she’s
keeping things positive.
“We’re all just excited that we get to do anything at this
point,” Tabler said. “We’ve been so starved.”
Tabler first encountered the play a few years ago as a
member of the theater’s artistic team, when they were searching for scripts
that might make for good productions. The comedy offers the story of Olivia and
Game, who move into an apartment together, but complications arise when both
sets of parents show up.
“It has a lot of humor in it,” Tabler said, adding that the
author also wrote “Nana’s Naughty Knickers.” “I think it’s going to be
something that everyone will like.”
She also noted how the show is lighthearted, and that it
offers a message about how when people really love each other, they can weather
anything.
“In the end, money and things like that don’t matter,”
Tabler said, noting that the show is appropriate for kids 12 and older. “It’s
really you’re with the person you should be with. I think it’s going to be one
of those shows that's going to be uplifting.”
Due to the ongoing pandemic, audience members are encouraged
to pay attention to the SAT website for updates on protocols. Audience members
will need proof of vaccination or a negative test within the past 24 hours and
must wear a mask.
SAT presents “Things My Mother Taught Me,” by Katherine
DiSavino, from Friday, Feb. 25 through Sunday, March 20, at 17433 SE Meinig
Avenue in Sandy (behind Ace Hardware). A preview night will be offered on
Thursday, Feb. 24. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3
p.m. on Sundays. For more information or to make reservations call 503-936-4378
or visit sandyactorstheatre.org.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Photo by Garth Guibord
Hollis Carpenter loved swings, both the tire and rope
versions that her family have at their Mountain home. Hollis’ mother, Amber,
remembers the time she spent out enjoying them.
“She would be out there for hours by herself,” Amber said,
adding that Hollis had a “big imagination.”
Last month, thanks to donations from the community, the
Welches Schools installed a new swing to remember and celebrate the life of
Hollis, who died in a drowning accident at a summer camp on Aug. 21, 2020,
despite wearing a life jacket.
“Hollis loved holidays, giving gifts, her birthday,
celebrations,” Amber said. “Any excuse for a party or gathering, she was at the
center of it.”
The swing, which will also feature a plaque dedicated to
Hollis and painting by students at the school in the future, marks another
moment where the Mountain community rallied around the Carpenter family and
their loss. Donations totaled more than $15,000 for the new swing.
“To me, that is saying that so many people came together for
a little girl and did that in her honor is huge,” Amber said, adding that her
older daughter, who works at the school, has heard students talking about the
new swing. “Even the younger kids know her and remember her.”
“Hollis Carpenter was a joy,” said Kendra Payne, Welches
Schools Principal, adding that the model of swing selected is a Unity Swing,
one fitting of Hollis. “She was kind and funny and fun. I will never forget her
laugh, her bright eyes, her big smile and her sweet voice.”
In the aftermath of Hollis’ passing, the family set out to
collect life jackets and install a station at the Pine Hollow reservoir, where
they have a cabin. Amber estimated the effort garnered 200 lifejackets, made
available in case anyone at the site who forgot one could recreate safely.
Amber added that support came from all over the community,
including the Welches Liquor Store, the Rhododendron Dairy Queen, Coffee
Brewsters, the Welches gas station, Skyway and so many more.
“It just goes so deep, where you don’t even realize,” she
said. “The fact that my kid could drown while wearing a life jacket, it’s
insane.”
In another example of how the community stepped up after
Hollis’ passing, Amber recalled how the Riverside Fire that year forced the
family to evacuate from their house. A custom-made urn had just arrived and was
placed in their car, but it was broken into and the urn was stolen (no ashes
were in the urn at the time).
Amber reached out to the man who had made it, who responded
that a box would be arriving soon. An anonymous member of the Mountain
community had tracked down the maker on Etsy and replaced it for the family.
“Somebody did that,” Amber said. “The effort to do that is
so incredible, it just speaks volumes for our community. We still to this day
do not know (who did it).”
Hollis’ middle name was Day, a contribution spurred on by
her older sister because “Hollis Day” is close to “holiday.” And in light of
that, the family and community have taken to the saying, “Make every day a
Hollis Day,” a reminder to keep Hollis’ happy, kind and loving spirit alive
every day.
“It represents her and a good overall quality of life,”
Amber said, noting how the middle name was very appropriate for her daughter.
“She would not want us to sit around; she’d want the party to go on. We’ve
really tried to honor that.”
“She lived the biggest life for a 12-year-old,” Amber added,
noting that Hollis got to travel to Puerto Rico and went to Disneyland three
times in the year before she passed.
This year, the family also hopes to continue the efforts to
protect children recreating on the water by adding a life jacket station at
Trillium Lake.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| 2021 marks the end of Sandy River Watershed Council posted on 01/01/2022
The Sandy River Watershed Council (SRWC) – an independent
nonprofit organization working to preserve and protect the Sandy River
watershed since 1997 – ceased its operations last month as the board of
directors announced its dissolution.
“It’s a tremendous loss and it's been very painful,” Gerald
Murphy, a 46-year Mountain resident who was the vice chair of the SRWC board,
told The Mountain Times. “We did everything we could, but it's just down to
economics.”
In an email dated Friday, Dec. 17, the SRWC noted that
staffing losses, limited funding and restricted conditions from the pandemic
lead to financial difficulty. Murphy noted the organization dropped from six
full time positions to 1.5 in that time, adding that they paid back grant
funding and were ceasing operations as responsibly as possible.
“We’re going to just disappear by the end of the year
(2021),” he said. “It’s been a real struggle.”
The SRWC has partnered with various other organizations
through its history in a number of projects throughout the Sandy River
watershed, including annual litter cleanup events, “Weed Smackdowns” to remove
invasive species, stream restoration projects, floodplain reconnection projects
and many more.
Murphy got involved with the SRWC after the 2011 flood,
joining the board in 2013, and his participation with the organization lead to
getting involved with other committees, including the Clackamas County Planning
Commission.
“My awareness and everything I could learn about channel
migration has led to my community involvement,” he said.
Murphy noted that the loss for the watershed efforts is huge
and fears for when the next high-water event similar to 2011 or 1996 happens.
He did add that there are grant opportunities for other
organizations to help pick up the slack, citing the Oregon Watershed
Enhancement Board, The Freshwater Trust and the Clackamas County Soil and Water
Conservation District as a few of the groups who could fill the void.
“This is way too valuable a watershed to just let go and
ignore,” Murphy said, adding another way that the SRWC contributed was that it
also offered help to the City of Sandy during the process of trying to improve
the city’s wastewater system.
In an email to The Mountain Times, Heather Ibsen, Public
Affairs Officer for the Mount Hood National Forest, wrote, “The Sandy River and
its watershed is important in sustaining populations of salmon, steelhead and
other aquatic species - as well as supplying hundreds of thousands of
Oregonians with clean drinking water. With about 70% of the Sandy River basin
on Mt. Hood National Forest land, we’re dedicated to working with all partners
interested in its restoration.”
The December email cited more than 16,000 volunteers with
the organization since 2013 that made a difference to the watershed, while
Murphy offered his appreciation to those involved.
“The dedication from the staff and board members has been
incredible,” he said. “It hurt so much to see this go down.
"We did everything we could. We were just as shocked we
had to go this direction. We thought it was the most responsible thing we could
do.”
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| County hearing on Hoodland Park District set for Jan. 6 posted on 01/01/2022
Clackamas County Commissioners will take comments regarding
the proposed Hoodland Park District at the Thursday, Jan. 6 business meeting.
The meeting will be both in-person and virtual and will
begin at 10 a.m.
The proposed district, which will be decided on by voters in
the May election, would encompass approximately 20,000 acres, including the
communities of Sleepy Hollow, Brightwood, Wemme, Welches, Zigzag, Rhododendron,
Government Camp and Wapinitia, and feature a board of directors that will be
elected on the same ballot.
Regina Lythgoe, one of the district’s organizers, hopes that
the board can feature members from throughout the district, if formed.
“It would be nice to have representation from all of our
communities,” she said.
If formed, the district would receive three parcels of land
on Salmon River Road from Clackamas County and would develop the Dorman Center
site as a community park.
Possible amenities could include a pavilion, playground,
walking trails, extended community garden, bike pump track, skate park, dog
park, space for farmers market, restrooms and onsite security.
The district would be funded by a local property tax,
proposed to be at approximately 67 cents per $1,000 of assessed value
(resulting in approximately $200 per year on a house with an assessed value of
$300,000).
Some community members in the Government Camp area expressed
reservations about the district, with a survey by the Government Camp Community
Planning Organization revealing 84 percent of respondents opposing its
formation.
A report suggested that the district exclude the communities
of Government Camp, Summit Meadows and Wapinitia.
Kimberly Dinwiddie, Clackamas County Public Information
Officer and Policy Liaison, told The Mountain Times that the commissioners
could modify the petition that succeeded in obtaining enough signatures to put
the district on the May ballot.
Lythgoe noted that the district’s current boundaries are based
on the boundaries for the Welches Schools and that the district’s improvements
would help everyone.
“It benefits both sides,” she said. “It’s considered the
Mountain.”
Lythgoe added that the district’s organizers are expected to
meet with a campaign coordinator in January to map out a timeline to help in
the run up to the election.
If the district fails to form, the parcels of land on Salmon
River Road will be sold by Clackamas County.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| A changing of the guard for Fire District's volunteer board posted on 01/01/2022
After nine years of serving as the president for Hoodland
Fire District’s (HFD) Volunteer Board Association (VBA), Firefighter/Emergency
Medical Technician (EMT) Nick Miller is stepping down from his role with the
board. Miller will be succeeded as president of the VBA by Firefighter/EMT
Dawson Kooch, station manager at the Government Camp Station.
“My life has gotten busier,” Miller said. “I like to stay
engaged as much as possible, but don’t currently have the time the position
deserves.”
Miller, the owner of Cascade Yard Works in Zigzag, began
volunteering at Hoodland Fire District in 2001 and has since earned his
firefighter, emergency medical responder (EMR) and EMT certifications. During
his 20 years with the district, he has received awards for Firefighter of the
Year, Medical Responder of the Year and the Fire Chief's Award: Above and
Beyond. He will continue serving as an active-duty firefighter/EMT volunteer
responder for the district and will remain on the board as the sergeant at arms
for the organization.
The VBA held the vote for new officers on Dec. 14 and new
officers were announced at a meeting on Dec. 15 at the main station in Welches.
Other board officers elected are Vice President Firefighter/EMT Brandon
Bergeron, Treasurer Lisa Kline, and Secretaries Sally Chester and Debra Sinz.
The volunteer board is a not-for-profit organization that
promotes community outreach and fundraising activities for the fire district, a
combination district comprised of paid staff and volunteers providing emergency
response for the mountain communities.
Kooch joined the district in 2018 after participating in
Gresham Fire District's Cadet Program. He has received his firefighter and EMR
certifications as well as his EMT rating. Kooch recently received commendations
for his service during a 17-day deployment at the Bootleg Fire in southern
Oregon and has taken part in seven wildland deployments.
A recent remodel of the Government Camp Station, where Kooch
is the station manager, made it possible for HFD to maintain volunteers on site
in a residency program. The proximity of agency responders to a potential fire
in the community contributed to the reduction of the ISO (Insurance Services
Office) rating from 10 to 4 for properties in the area.
“(This role) is a new way of taking responsibility. I got a
lot of support from members urging me to pursue the position,” Kooch said. “The
responsibilities are definitely keeping me very busy. We have the Government
Camp station staffed 95 percent of the time.”
Kooch’s priorities for the VBA include continuing the
organization’s mission of public outreach, encouraging public involvement and
awareness of HFD’s role in the community, promoting recognition for HFD
member’s achievements and revitalizing fundraising efforts.
Both Miller and Kooch underlined the important role volunteers
play in assuring safety and emergency response in the fire district and
encourage public involvement.
“Some members of the community don’t realize the volunteer
opportunities with HFD,” Miller said.
For more information regarding volunteer opportunities with
HFD contact the district at hoodland@hoodlandfire.org or 503-622-3256.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Rhody CPO meets in person for first time in two years posted on 01/01/2022
The last time the Rhododendron Community Planning
Organization (CPO) held an in-person meeting, various dignitaries (and a cake)
were on hand to celebrate the first of two centennial celebrations for the
community. This month, the group will hold its first in-person meeting since
then, a break of two years thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s going to feel great,” Steve Graeper, CPO President,
said. “It’s long overdue and we’ll be able to start a communication process
that has been lacking for the past two years.”
The agenda includes a series of guest speakers, leading off
with Hoodland Fire District Chief Jim Price, who will discuss his vision for
the district and possibly making Rhododendron a Firewise community. Bill
Messner and Julie Hernandez will represent Portland General Electric and will
discuss wildfire management and preemptive outages, followed by a short
discussion with Marci Slater about the Hoodland Park District that will be put
to voters in May 2022.
Graeper also plans on providing updates on a possible
Rhododendron Gateway Arch sign and next steps on the Rhody Rising efforts to
revitalize the community. He noted that after the recent completion of a
transportation growth grant, he hopes to get the Oregon Department of
Transportation (ODOT) to do a traffic study (more in-depth than a speed study)
in an attempt to make Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron more pedestrian friendly.
“It was not my idea to put the highway on a road diet,”
Graeper said, referring to the idea of reducing the lanes on Hwy. 26 to a
single lane in each direction in Rhododendron. “That was ODOT’s idea. It’s just
a possibility.”
The meeting will also feature the election of new officers
for the CPO, with Graeper planning on no longer serving on the board.
“It’s time for a change,” he said.
The CPO meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan.
15, at the Mt. Hood Village RV Resort, 65000 Hwy. 26 in Welches.
A full agenda is expected to be posted in the Rhododendron
Post Office in early January.
Graeper noted that COVID-19 protocols will be in place,
including masking, but the specific measures in place may change based on
recommendations at the time.
“It’s a very fluid environment with COVID, we don’t know
what the requirements will be,” he said.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Winter reading challenge to read for a better world posted on 01/01/2022
Looking for a staycation idea now that the holidays are over
and the dark, cold days of winter have fully arrived?
Sandy and Hoodland libraries invite community members to
participate in Beanstack’s fifth annual winter reading challenge during the
month of January. The “Read for a Better World” reading challenge encourages
readers to explore diversity, empathy and action through literature.
Library patrons are challenged to read for 600 minutes or
more from Jan. 1 through Jan. 31. The libraries will award a $50 gift
certificate from a local business to a winner drawn from the participants who
complete the challenge.
2022 will be the second year the local libraries take part
in the event. In the winter of 2021, 31 community members participated in the
challenge.
“People seemed to really enjoy the program last year,” said
Monica Smith, children’s librarian for Sandy and Hoodland Public Libraries.
“We’re hoping to get more (participants) this year.”
The challenge is sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group.
Library patrons will have access to Lerner’s “Read for a Better World” themed
books during the challenge.
“Readers need a true diversity of books to not only see
themselves, but to see that they are part of a big, beautiful, diverse world…
Read for a Better World provides an inclusive literary collection that will
help (participants) grow as readers and as people,” stated Lerner Publishing on
their website.
Libraries and schools throughout the nation are encouraging
their communities to read a target number of minutes and books during the
winter reading challenge. Libraries and schools with the highest performance
will earn prizes from Lerner Publishing Group, including book collections,
signed books and virtual author visits.
Readers can keep track of their progress on the library’s
Beanstack site at Sandy.Beanstack.org or through the Beanstack app for iPhone
and Android.
Any age library patron can enter in the reading challenge.
Smith provided a sample list of recommended reading for the
program by age cohort:
Ages 0-6
“H Is for Home: A Sesame Street ® Guide to Homes around the
World” by Karen Latchana Kenney.
“Parents Like Mine” by Marie-Therese Miller.
“Something Special: All Kinds of Foods” by Lisa Bullar.
Ages 5-10
“Thanku: Poems of Gratitude” edited by Miranda Paul.
“Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee
Aerospace Engineer” by Traci Sorell.
“Ruth and the Green Book” by Calvin Alexander Ramsey.
Ages 10-18
“Immigration, Refugees, and the Fight for a Better Life” by
Elliott Smith.
“Mass Incarceration, Black Men, and the Fight for
Justice" by Cicely Lewis.
“The Life Heroic: How To Unleash Your Most Amazing Self” by
Elizabeth Svoboda.
Age 18+
“The Four Million: The Gift of the Magi and Other Short
Stories” by O. Henry.
“The American Dream? A Journey on Route 66 Discovering
Dinosaur Statues, Muffler Men, and the Perfect Breakfast Burrito” by Shing Yin
Khor.
“Walden” and “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” by Henry
David Thoreau.
Registration and more information is available online at
Sandy.beanstack.org.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| 'Dragnet,' 'Popeye,' more for theater fundraiser posted on 01/01/2022
Kelly Lazenby, Artistic Director of the Nutz-n-Boltz Theater
Company (NNB) in Boring, noted that choosing a selection of radio plays and more
for the annual “In Front of the Philco” fundraiser can be an interesting
process.
“It’s kind of tricky, because you don’t want it to be so
unfamiliar,” she said, adding that the length of the pieces and the number of
voices are also factors.
This year’s offerings, which will take place on the weekend
of Jan. 28-30, include “Dragnet,” “Flash Gordon,” “My Favorite Husband” and
“Popeye,” along with a selection of jingles, commercials and perhaps even a
live musical number.
“They’re all either funny or else really super
melodramatic,” Lazenby said. “There’s no in between, really.”
She added that in doing plays that were intended for a radio
audience, it offers the opportunity to search out pieces that include some
interesting sound effects – which is a good reason “Flash Gordon” is part of
the performances.
“I like doing things like ray guns, rockets blasting off and
stuff like that,” Lazenby said.
Each evening of performances will last less than two hours
and will be appropriate for all ages. There will also be concessions available
for purchase.
Lazenby hopes that the fundraiser can help pay for NNB’s
upcoming spring productions: David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Fuddy Meers,” about a
woman who wakes up each morning with no memory of yesterday, in March; and A.R.
Gurney’s “The Dining Room,” about the experiences of a number of different
families in the room that brings everyone together, the dining room, opening in
May.
NNB’s “In Front of the Philco” fundraiser will be held
Friday, Jan. 28 through Sunday, Jan. 30, at the Boring Grange, 27861 Grange
Street in Boring.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m.
on Sunday. Tickets are $15. For more information, or to make reservations, call
503-593-1295 or visit nnbtheater.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Contributed photo
Area merchants and tree farmers warn that locals looking for
that perfect Christmas tree this season can expect a less abundant selection
after a summer of high heat and drought conditions impacted tree farms in the
region.
U.S. Forest Service representatives stated that people
intending to harvest their own tree should expect to find more “Charlie Brown
Christmas Trees” in the National Forest with plenty of cheer, but potentially a
brown spot or two due to the parched conditions this year.
“I think this is the worst season we’ve had,” said Kathleen
Harrison, owner of Harrison’s Tree Farm in Sandy. Her farm, located at 48080 SE
Coalman Road in Sandy, is a family-run farm that began growing trees in 1996.
The farm supplies three buyers in the Seattle area and one
near Hillsboro, and is open for U-Cut on weekends starting the Friday after
Thanksgiving. Harrison estimated they sell 800 trees annually to people looking
to choose their own tree.
“We lost 40 to 50 percent of the new seedlings we planted
this year during the heat dome in June and we’re seeing a lot more brown then
usual on the older trees” Harrison said.
The farm was able to fill its wholesale orders for the year
but she anticipates having to incorporate younger than ideal trees to meet
demand as well as potential shortages in years to come as this year’s lean
planting matures.
Welches Mountain Building Supply typically sells
approximately 150 to 175 trees to the Mountain community each year. The owner
of the building supply, Rochelle Simonds, noted that most of the tree suppliers
in the area are having the same issues with burnt trees and stunted new growth.
Simonds was able to secure the trees her business needs for their lot from Al
and D’s Christmas Trees in Estacada, a farm she has done business with for
years.
“We’re all local and we’re in it together,” Simonds said
about the farm’s willingness to work with to assure the needed supply of
fresh-cut trees.
“The heat impacted a good 50 percent of the trees that we
would have marked for sale this year,” said Kevin Morris, operator of Al and
D’s farm. “When you have a dead spot, it throws the whole tree off.”
Both Simonds and Morris predict a price increase in farmed
Christmas trees this year due to the reduced supply.
Morris stated that due to the small nature of the family
farm he operates generating a set profit is less a factor than using the land
for cultivation.
“We try to be fair; it is Christmas,” Morris said. “We enjoy
making sure the community has Christmas trees up there.”
For residents interested in finding and cutting their own
trees, Christmas tree permits for the Mt. Hood National Forest are available to
purchase at local vendors and online through Recreation.gov. The permits cost
$5 per tree with a limit of five permits per house.
“The trees are not like lot Christmas trees,” said Heather
Ibsen, Public Affairs Officer for Mt. Hood National Forest. Ibsen stated the
trees in the National Forest were also showing signs of stress from the hot and
dry conditions this year.
A Forest Service press release stated that this year “tree
cutting is prohibited along Highways 26, 35, & 216; in Wilderness; in the
Bull Run Watershed and The Dalles Watershed; fire closure areas; Camp Baldwin;
and other areas closed to public entry.”
“Last year was busy out in the forest, and we’re expecting
the same this year. We anticipate increased visitation but on a smaller footprint
due to fire closures,” Ibsen said.
She requested that people seeking to cut their own trees in
the national forest be prepared for changing weather and respect signage for
boundary lines guiding where cutting is allowed. More information about the
permits is available online at https://tinyurl.com/mthoodtreepermit.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Park District petition expected to be approved posted on 12/01/2021
Organizers of the proposed Hoodland Park District, a new
entity that could receive three parcels of land on Salmon River Road from
Clackamas County and oversee community projects from Wapinitia to Sleepy
Hollow, expect the county to verify enough signatures on a petition to put the
potential district on the May 2022 ballot. The petition required 788 signatures
to be submitted to the county before Nov. 18 to be verified, and Regina
Lythgoe, co-chair of the effort, reported 1,077 signatures were obtained.
“It was a relief to finally get them done in such a short
amount of time,” she said, adding that 34 volunteers participated in the drive
to get signatures. “It feels good to get everybody involved and all the help we
got from the volunteers.”
The county has 10 days to verify signatures and certify the
petition, which Lythgoe expected to be done in the early days of December. Once
certified, the county commissioners will have 50 days to hold a public hearing,
but no date has been set as of yet.
Lythgoe noted that organizers expect to hold a number of
community forums and other outreach following the hearing.
The proposed district would encompass approximately 20,000
acres, including the communities of Sleepy Hollow, Brightwood, Wemme, Welches,
Zigzag, Rhododendron, Government Camp and Wapinitia, and feature a board of
directors that will be elected on the same ballot. District organizers hope to
develop the Dorman Center site as a community park, with possible amenities
including a pavilion, playground, walking trails, extended community garden,
bike pump track, skate park, dog park, space for farmers market, restrooms and
onsite security.
The district would be funded by a local property tax,
proposed to be at approximately 67 cents per $1,000 of assessed value
(resulting in approximately $200 per year on a house with an assessed value of
$300,000).
The district could acquire other land in the community
(either by purchase or a gift) and secure different methods of funding (such as
grants) to create trails connecting Mountain communities, an ice-skating rink or
other amenities.
If the district fails to form, the parcels of land on Salmon
River Road will be sold by Clackamas County.
One Mountain community expressed some reservations about the
proposed district, as the Government Camp Planning Organization formed a
subcommittee to gauge interest in it.
The subcommittee created a survey, which showed 84 percent
of the 156 responses were opposed to the district (76 percent of 33 registered
voters who participated were opposed).
The survey was conducted over three days in October and was
limited to one response per household.
In a document outlining the survey, the subcommittee
recommended that petitioners should reconsider the proposal and exclude the
communities of Government Camp, Summit Meadows and Wapinitia.
Lythgoe noted the district’s aim is to improve livability
throughout the Mountain and that many of the people who work in those three
areas live in Welches, Rhododendron and other Hoodland communities.
“We’re in this together,” she said.
For more information, visit the district’s website,
www.hoodlandparkdistrict.us or email hoodlandparkdistrict@gmail.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Photo by Garth Guibord
Sandy Spitzer first moved to the Mountain in 1996 and has
worked in various industries, including at a snowboard camp and in a number of
restaurants.
Last month, Spitzer opened her own business, Fernie’s
Coffee, 73265 E. Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron.
“I can say I’ve always wanted to be my own boss,” Spitzer
said. “I didn’t know what it was going to be.”
Fernie’s offers various coffee drinks along with breakfast,
including biscuits and gravy, bagels, steel cut oats and Greek yogurt parfaits,
along with lunch, including sandwiches and soup.
Spitzer noted that her experience in serving drinks gave her
a head start on her new trade.
“It’s kind of like bartending, but with coffee,” she said.
“It's definitely an art, like bartending.”
Fernie’s offers Stumptown coffee and Spitzer noted that the
process of getting up to speed on preparing drinks has been made easy by the
coffee company.
“I’m definitely learning a lot; Stumptown has been awesome,
they have a really great educational program,” she said, noting that a
representative has visited the mountain coffee shop a couple times to help get
things started.
Spitzer also noted the shop will have consistent hours along
with friendly service and will be dog-friendly (after all, Fernie’s is named
after her family’s miniature Australian shepherd). Photos of customers with
their pets already adorn walls at the shop, and Spitzer hopes to someday offer
homemade dog treats.
“People love their dogs up here,” she said.
For now, she’s not planning on adding anything new for the
immediate future, although she added she’s planning on growing at some point,
“one way or another.” She’s focused on getting everything dialed in for the
winter season, while appreciating all the support she’s received to get to this
point.
“The community’s been really helpful,” Spitzer said.
Fernie’s Coffee is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday
through Tuesday (closed on Wednesday). For more information, find Fernie’s on
Facebook or call 503-564-9061.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Chamber returns to in-person meetings in January posted on 12/01/2021
The past 21 months for the Mt. Hood Area Chamber of Commerce
have been anything but “business as usual.” After the coronavirus pandemic hit,
the chamber halted in-person meetings, held board meetings via zoom and took
efforts to help its members, including not collecting dues for a year.
Next month, the chamber will restart its monthly in-person
meetings, held on the first Tuesday of each month, and will welcome Jason
Brandt, President and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association
(ORLA).
“The 21-month long span of the pandemic to date has caused
widespread disruptions in Oregon’s hospitality industry,” Brandt wrote in an
email to The Mountain Times. “Our discussion at the Chamber will include a
review of the challenges faced by the industry to date, relief programs that
have assisted many with business survival, and the many challenges that persist
as operators work to bring back a sense of normalcy for their employees and
customers.”
Brandt added that while some businesses have started to be
profitable again, some had to go into debt to cover unavoidable losses.
“Our hope at ORLA for the business world would be that 2022
is full of consistency for business operations without unexpected and overly
volatile government regulations,” Brandt noted. “2019 was the last year any
business was able to rely on operating hours based on their own decision
making."
“Our hope for 2022 is that it is filled with opportunities
to bring joy and fulfillment to our guests as we work to transition from a
pandemic to the management of an endemic throughout our state and country,” he
added.
The chamber will play its part in helping out Mountain
businesses this year by reducing membership dues, made possible by years of
volunteer efforts, including the proceeds from The Bite of Mt. Hood.
The chamber’s first in-person meeting will be held at 10
a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort, 68010 E. Fairway
Avenue in Welches. Refreshments will be served and COVID protocols will be
followed. For more information, call 503-622-3017.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Fire District urges home safety preparation for the winter posted on 12/01/2021
While the mention of a chimney sweep can frequently bring to
mind the movie “Mary Poppins,” a proper chimney cleaning can help prevent a
chimney fire, which can rapidly develop into a fire that effects the structure
of the building.
Each year approximately 25,000 chimney fires are reported
nationwide and cause millions of dollars of damage to homes, thousands of
injuries and many deaths.
“We recommend you clean your chimney at least twice a year.
Creosote can really build up quickly,” Hoodland Fire District Chief Jim Price
said. “We’ve already had a couple chimney fires this fall and we expect a few
more heading into the winter.”
HFD residents can borrow chimney brushes from the district’s
main station in Welches as community members begin to spend more time indoors
and rely on their chimneys for warmth and comfort during the cold winter
months. The program is offered by the HFD for free in an effort to prevent
chimney fires in the district.
Creosote is a highly flammable residue that builds up inside
the chimney as a byproduct of burning wood. When the sticky, black or brown
material builds up in sufficient quantities and is exposed to high enough flue
temperatures a chimney fire can occur.
Residents are advised to measure the inside of their chimney
pipes before coming to the station during business hours to borrow an
appropriately sized brush and six-foot extension rod. A photo I.D. and the
completion of a check-out form is required to borrow a brush. Instructions for
using the brushes are available online on the HFD website.
The district also offers to install reflective address
markers for residents whose driveways are not currently marked in an effort to
facilitate quick emergency response times.
“One of the things that slows us down the most is finding
the house,” Chief Price said. “Most of our calls are in-house medicals, and we
have lots of elderly and vulnerable populations.”
Residents can order the materials for the markers from the
district for $25. The markers will be assembled and installed by HFD at no
additional charge.
Chief Price added that the district has many residences on
unmarked, long and treelined driveways.
“The markers are a value to us. It makes (responding to an
emergency) a lot easier when minutes count, seconds count,” he said.
The address marker will be installed at the end of the
driveway so that it is easy to see from a distance. Markers can be ordered on
HFD’s website and will take four to six weeks for delivery and installation.
More information about both home safety programs is
available online at https://www.hoodlandfire.us or by contacting HFD by phone
at 503-622-3256.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| A Christmas mystery posted on 12/01/2021
Kelly Lazenby, director of the December Nutz-n-Boltz Theater
Company’s production, noted that a play with Sherlock Holmes has always been at
the top of the list. This month, the time has come with “The Game’s Afoot or
Holmes for the Holidays,” by Ken Ludwig.
“It’s funny, it’d madcap, it’s a little bit of a murder
mystery and it’s Christmas,” Lazenby said. “There’s a little bit of
everything.”
The story features a group of actors celebrating Christmas
together at the home of actor William Gillette in Connecticut. Gillette was a
real person, an actor who met Arthur Conan Doyle, wrote a play based on the
Sherlock Holmes adventures and then played Sherlock for more than 20 years on
Broadway.
In the play, Gillette must recover after being shot in the
final show of the season, which also featured a stagehand dying. When the cast
gathers at Gillette's house, they are joined by theater critic Daria Chase, who
ends up murdered later that night, offering Gillette a chance to try his hand
as Sherlock Holmes for real.
Lazenby noted that the show is running for just two
weekends, but each weekend will include a Saturday matinee in order to offer
eight performances. COVID-19 protocols will be in place, including masks, but
Lazenby added that those haven’t been a big challenge for the theater.
“It hasn’t really been too much of a hassle, people are
pretty happy to be going somewhere,” she said.
NNB’s production of “The Game’s Afoot or Holmes for the
Holidays,” by Ken Ludwig will run from Friday, Dec. 10 through Sunday, Dec. 19,
at the Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in Boring. Show times are 7:30 p.m.
on Fridays, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays.
Ticket pricing is from $12-15 and the show is appropriate
for all ages, but best enjoyed if over 10 years old. There are special group
rates for parties of ten or more and concessions will be served. For more
information, or to make reservations, call 503-593-1295 or visit
nnbtheater.com.
“Miracle” continues
in Sandy
The Sandy Actors Theatre (SAT) will continue its production
of “Miracle on 34th Street,” about a Santa at a department store who claims to
be the real Santa and ends up going to the Supreme Court where he gets the help
from a little girl. The production is written by Lance Arthur Smith, adapted
from the 1947 Lux Radio Broadcast (itself adapted from the hit movie).
“Miracle on 34th Street” will run through Sunday, Dec. 19,
at SAT, 17433 SE Meinig Avenue in Sandy (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, $13 for children and $15 for seniors, first responders,
students and veterans (reservations are recommended). For more information, or
to make reservations call 503-936-4378 or visit sandyactorstheatre.org.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Tips for living where the wild things are posted on 12/01/2021
As the boundaries between rural and urban areas shrink,
encounters and conflicts with wildlife become more common. Forest-dwelling
communities know this particularly well. It’s a natural assumption that many
wildlife species move in and around those communities, some more welcome than
others.
Native to Oregon, cougars range throughout the state and the
highest densities occur in the Blue Mountains in northeast Oregon and in the
southwestern Cascade Mountains. Their primary food source is deer, but they
will also consume elk, raccoons, beaver and other mammals and birds.
The number of cougar complaints in the Mount Hood area
received by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) this year is on
track to be well below average. While there is no recently documented increase
in cougar populations around Mount Hood, it’s important to consider the factors
that may contribute to the perception of more of these big cats in the area.
Over the last several years the use of trail cameras and
home security cameras has increased. With eyes and ears open 24/7, these camera
systems catch critters that would otherwise go undetected. The animals
appearing on a doorbell camera have likely been around for quite a while, only
now having their cover blown.
Seeing a cougar around your home can be unsettling if you
weren’t aware of their presence before. However, sighting a cougar is not
necessarily a cause for alarm and the good news is there are steps to help
humans and wildlife coexist peacefully in spaces we share:
– Learn your neighborhood. Be aware of any wildlife
corridors or places where deer or elk concentrate.
– Walk pets during the day and keep them on a leash.
– Shelter pets and livestock indoors at night.
– Feed pets indoors.
– Don’t feed wildlife. Don't leave food and garbage outside.
– Use animal-proof garbage cans if necessary.
– Remove heavy brush from near the house and play areas.
– Install motion-activated lights along walkways and
livestock/poultry enclosures.
– Be more cautious at dawn, dusk and nighttime when cougars
are most active.
– Deer-proof your garden and yard with lights and fencing.
If you encounter a cougar, make yourself look big, spread
your arms and make lots of noise. Cougars will often retreat if given the
opportunity, so leave them a way to escape. Above all, don’t run. In the
extremely unlikely event that you’re attacked, fight back and protect the back
of your head and neck.
Following these precautions and staying alert outdoors can make
our communities safer for humans and for wildlife.
Cougar concerns can be reported to your local ODFW office in
Clackamas at 971-673-6000 during regular business hours or the Oregon State
Police after regular business hours and for emergencies. For more information
on living with cougars visit https://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_with/cougars.asp.
By Beth Quillian/For the MT
Beth Quillian is a public information officer with the
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. |
|  Photo by Garth Guibord
Mount Hood ski resorts are readying for the winter season as
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast calls for a
cooler, wetter winter in the Pacific Northwest and across the northern part of
the country.
This winter’s NOAA forecast holds promise for a good snow
season on Mount Hood and is largely predicated to the occurrence of the ocean-atmospheric
climate phenomenon known as La Niña.
“(La Niña) is the main driver for a forecast of
above-average precipitation in the region this winter,” said Andy Bryant,
National Weather Service Hydrologist. “Big picture; it’s a good outlook for
snowpack in the North Oregon Cascades.”
The La Niña weather pattern periodically occurs when lower
than average sea temperatures in the Eastern Tropical Pacific shifts the jet
stream to the north. This shifting of the atmospheric river of winds over the
Pacific commonly brings more storms to the northern part of the North American
continent.
“During this phenomenon, the storm track is aimed at
Washington and Northwest Oregon,” Bryant said.
This winter, the NOAA expects moderate La Niña conditions to
result in slightly below-average temperatures in the region and slightly
above-average precipitation. Current data shows strengthening La Niña
conditions in the Pacific.
Area ski resorts are preparing for a busy season,
potentially aided by favorable snow conditions. “La Niña typically bodes very
well for snow conditions at Timberline and other ski areas on Mount Hood,” said
John Burton, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Timberline Lodge.
“Last year there was a lot of demand for outdoor experiences and also a lot of
challenges. We’re looking forward to things being back to somewhat normal.”
This season, Timberline’s Summit Pass, formerly known as
Summit Ski Area, is officially part of the Timberline ski area. The addition
increases the resort’s vertical terrain to 4540 feet, the longest in the United
States.
Mt. Hood Skibowl has worked to streamline guest experience
this winter with tickets available for purchase online in January, additional
kiosks for lift ticket redemption and a new Skibowl food truck offering
grab-and-go seasonal menu items and beverages. The resort is also beginning a
multi-year project replacing their metal halide lights with LED replacements.
The retrofit will reduce energy consumption by 50 percent and provide an
improved visual night experience for guests.
“La Niña years have always been very generous to Skibowl,
and we are looking forward to more of the same this season,” said Mt. Hood
Skibowl representative Karen Norton.
Above-average precipitation and mountain snowfall this
winter should also help alleviate some of the severe to exceptional drought
conditions covering most of Oregon.
“It will take 120 to 130 percent of average precipitation
for western Oregon to get out of drought conditions,” Bryant said. “It is
really unlikely that central and eastern Oregon will see the 150 to 175 percent
of average precipitation needed to end ongoing drought conditions.”
“We’re hopeful for some good snow in the Western Cascades,”
he added.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Christmas basket program sends out call for volunteers posted on 11/01/2021
Carol Norgard, one of the volunteer organizers of the annual
Hoodland Community Christmas Basket program, noted that last year’s efforts
included close to 60 volunteers, an increase from past years when 30 volunteers
participated. She attributed that partly to spreading out the volunteers
throughout the day and limiting the number of people involved at any given time
due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“More people can come and assist before or after work,”
Norgard said, adding that the efforts were spread over a few days, starting in
the morning and going into the evenings, which offered times for community
members with varying schedules.
And for the second year in a row, organizers will use
signup.com, a website that helps facilitate volunteer efforts, allowing people
to log in and sign up for a time slot and activity. Volunteers will have to
adhere to COVID-19 restrictions this year, too.
The program offers a food basket and a gift for children
ages 18 and under to those in need within the Welches Schools boundaries.
Norgard said they helped between 80 to 95 families each year in the past three
years, and they anticipate the same number this year, although they plan for more
in case the need arises.
“Things were very similar (in 2020) to the way they’ve been
all along,” she said.
Anybody on the Mountain is welcome to participate and
Norgard added that many people show up who don’t have children or are not part
of one of the community organizations, but just want to help.
Volunteer activities include moving the food items (covered
vans and trucks are needed for this part), sorting the food, checking the
expiration dates, assembling boxes, deliveries and more, and Norgard noted that
it can involve a lot of lifting. Every food box is assembled for a family of
four, but the group will add more items for larger families.
“We pay attention to that because we have the opportunity
to,” Norgard said.
Volunteer times are available from 2:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday,
Dec. 15, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 17 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18. A cleanup day will be
added to the www.signup.com site.
For more information, or to sign up for volunteering, visit
https://signup.com/go/kXdgUML. The group will also accept donations, which can
be offered through Venmo at www.venmo.com/u/Hoodland-ChristmasBaskets.
For anyone interested in receiving a basket, applications
will be available starting the first week of November at various locations,
including the Clackamas County Bank, Coffee House 26, Smoke on the Mountain,
Welches Mountain Building Supply and the Welches Liquor Store.
Welches Schools will also send home applications, which can
be dropped off at any location where they are available and also at the
Hoodland Fire District main station, 69634 Hwy. 26 in Welches.
Giving trees will be available in late November, offering
the chance to get gifts that are part of the basket program. Trees will be
located at Clackamas County Bank, Coffee House 26, Smoke on the Mountain,
Welches Mountain Building Supply, Welches Liquor Store and the Welches Schools.
The Hoodland Community Thanksgiving Dinner has been
cancelled this year.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Park District petition on the clock for getting signatures posted on 11/01/2021
Clackamas County approved a petition that could pave the way
for voters to decide the fate of a proposed Hoodland Park District on the May
17, 2022 ballot. The petition, in the works since before the coronavirus
pandemic began, will now be circulated through the Mountain community as
organizers hope to secure 1,000 signatures before the Thursday, Nov. 18
deadline.
“It feels very gratifying,” said Marci Slater, one of the
organizers of the effort, noting the petition requires 788 valid signatures but
they have a higher target to provide a margin of error. “We are looking forward
to just getting it on the ballot. We want to get it on the ballot so that
everybody has a voice in whether this goes through. I feel like there’s a lot
of momentum in the community for this.”
The proposed district, which had originally been considered
for the November 2020 election, would encompass approximately 20,000 acres,
including the communities of Sleepy Hollow, Brightwood, Wemme, Welches, Zigzag,
Rhododendron, Government Camp and Wapinitia, and feature a board of directors
that will be elected on the same ballot. If formed, the district would receive
three parcels along Salmon River Road gifted by Clackamas County, including the
site of the former Dorman Center, which features the current community garden.
The district would develop the Dorman Center site as a
community park, with possible amenities including a pavilion, playground,
walking trails, extended community garden, bike pump track, skate park, dog
park, space for farmers market, restrooms and onsite security. The district
would be funded by a local property tax, proposed to be at approximately 67
cents per $1,000 of assessed value (resulting in approximately $200 per year on
a house with an assessed value of $300,000).
Organizers and up to 25 volunteers were expected to begin
collecting signatures at various sites throughout the community starting on
Friday, Oct. 29 (a full list of sites and times is available at the end of this
story). Slater added that she expects another 20 volunteers to be trained on
Tuesday, Nov. 2.
A full copy of the petition will be on hand at every site,
but Slater encourages people to visit www.hoodlandparkdistrict.us to read it
beforehand.
Slater added that she was expected to take part in a Zoom
call with the members of the Government Camp Community Planning Organization on
Thursday, Oct. 28 to answer questions and concerns.
She noted that there is some resistance in that community to
being included in the district’s boundaries, but that she hopes people there
see the potential for the district developing recreational activities there in
the future, as the district could acquire other land in the community (either
by purchase or a gift) and secure different methods of funding (such as grants)
to create trails connecting Mountain communities, an ice-skating rink or other
amenities.
“I’m glad that they are paying attention and engaged,”
Slater said. “This is really important.”
She added that if enough signatures on the petition are
approved, the Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners will have a
hearing where people can share their thoughts on the proposed district. If the
district fails to form, organizers noted the parcels of land will be sold by
Clackamas County.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Mount Hood National Forest welcomes new Forest Supervisor posted on 11/01/2021
When Meta Loftsgaarden moved to northwest Oregon in 2003,
she looked east from her office in Portland and saw the sun rising over Mount
Hood.
“There’s nothing more gorgeous,” she said.
Now, as the new Forest Supervisor for the Mount Hood
National Forest (MHNF), Loftsgaarden will get a multitude of views of that
iconic peak, overseeing four different ranger districts (including the Zigzag
Ranger District) and everything associated with them, from recreation and
timber harvest to fire prevention and fish habitat.
“It’s incredibly exciting,” she said. “The Mount Hood
National Forest is really just one of the most diverse forests in the west,
certainly in this region.”
Loftsgaarden grew up in Montana, noting that she spent much
of her time in national forests and parks, including spending time cross
country skiing. In her early days in Oregon, she and her husband came to the
Zigzag Ranger District where she realized that despite the forest’s proximity
to an urban center, there were undiscovered places just a short distance away.
“For me, Zigzag was the first place that I got to that made
me feel that this could be home,” she said, adding that while she is new to the
job, she has spent 18 years finding places on Mount Hood to explore.
Loftsgaarden previously worked for the United States
Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service on partnership
and policy issues including farmland protection, working forestland easements,
and strategic conservation, and most recently served as the Executive Director
for the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, a state agency that supports
community-based conservation, habitat restoration, and improved water quality.
For Loftsgaarden, balancing the demands on the forest, with
the large numbers of visitors and the transportation issues, with the
environmental impact of human activities as a challenge for her new role, also
noting the forest’s economic impact, including timber harvesting.
“I think there’s a lot of really cool opportunities that lie
within that in how we manage the forest moving forward,” she said.
When asked about a possible revision of the Northwest Forest
Plan, originally signed in 1990 and used to manage the forest (including the
recently approved timber harvest under the Zigzag Integrated Resource Project),
Loftsgaarden noted that the efforts would be started at the national level. She
added that even without revisions, there have been studies and other analysis
that have been informing decisions connected to the plan.
Loftsgaarden also said that when there is a revision to the
plan, she anticipates working on it with the public and various other partners
in an open and transparent way.
“I would expect that this is going to be a process that we
are going to engage a lot of people in,” she said.
Loftsgaarden also noted how she wants to help visitors and
others understand how closely the decisions on the forest are connected to the
people who live there. In light of that, she said she plans on being
“thoughtful and intentional” about those decisions and to take the time to
understand the perspectives of people living in the forest corridor.
“Everything impacts people on the Mountain,” said
Loftsgaarden, who has a Masters of Public Administration from Portland State
University and a Bachelor of Science from Montana State University. “A lot of
forests don’t have this population.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Mountain's new holistic care clinic posted on 11/01/2021
Doctors Jason and Melanie Brown moved to Welches in 2018 to
raise their five boys with greater proximity to the healthy influence of Mount
Hood’s nature and outdoor activities.
The couple, who met while earning Doctor of Chiropractic
degrees from the University of Western States, have owned and operated the Pure
Life Clinic in northeast Portland for 15 years.
After settling into their new home on the Mountain the
couple decided to expand their practice with a clinic offering their holistic
health and wellness treatments in their new community.
“We realized we’ve found our forever home and now we want to
have our business here,” Melanie said.
After carefully searching for the right location, the two
signed a lease in April and gradually began seeing patients at their new
practice, the Mountain Life Clinic, during the summer. The new clinic is
located at 67195 Hwy. 26 in Welches.
“By word of mouth we’ve had nice, slow growth over the
summer,” Jason said. “Now we’ve got everything in place at the clinic and we’re
ready to blow it up.”
The couple’s described their new undertaking as a low-volume
clinic that utilizes science-based natural medicine techniques to address
patient concerns as well as examining and finding solutions for underlying
barriers to optimal health.
The clinic offers chiropractic care, massage therapy and
treatment plans for auto injury, pain management and sports medicine. Jason
provides a focus on rehabilitation treatments at the clinic and Melanie often
provides a clinical focus for prenatal and child treatments.
Melanie stated that while the treatments provided are all
based on evidence and science, the two have made an attempt to create a
relaxing environment and provide a calming oasis to receive treatment in. The
clinic offers a flexion distraction chiropractic table for spine and back
treatment.
The two are joined by Fran Nystrum, LMT, a long-term
resident of the Mount Hood community who provides massage therapy at the
clinic, and Dr. Cristine Kadykalo, who provides naturopathic medicine
consultations.
The clinic will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to
Friday. Appointments can be made online or by calling the office. The practice
accepts Blue Cross, Moda and Pacific Source insurance and offers discounts for
community members without insurance.
Jason stated that the clinic strives to be a “point of
entry” for addressing health conditions and aims to provide conservative
treatments before referring patients for further MRIs, x-rays or surgical
consultations.
“Often the patients that fail to respond to an initial
conservative treatment plan ultimately respond better to the surgery due to the
preparation,” he said. “If (conservative treatment) works you’re better and if
it doesn’t we’ve helped patients prepare.”
Melanie stated the couple hopes to make the clinic a place
where people can learn about all elements of their health. Future plans for the
clinic include offering a yoga class on Monday nights and other community
involvement.
More information about the Mountain Life Clinic is available
online at https://purelifeclinic.com/mountainlifeclinic. The clinic can be
contacted by phone at 503-287-0010 or by email at
FrontDesk@MountainLifeClinic.com.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| The Scene on Stage: A holiday heart-warmer posted on 11/01/2021
Theatergoers at Sandy Actor’s Theatre’s (SAT) radio show of
“Miracle on 34th Street,” opening this month, may recognize Kris Kringle. Yes,
that is Santa Claus, but in this case, patrons may also recognize the
performer. That would be Curt Hanson, who recently was in episodes of
“Portlandia” and “Documentary Now!” and has also performed at various
Portland-area theaters, but is perhaps best known as Mr. Perkins in the classic
movie “The Goonies.”
Hanson plays a Santa at a department store who claims to be the
real Santa, and ends up going to the Supreme Court where he gets the help from
a little girl. The production is written by Lance Arthur Smith, adapted from
the 1947 Lux Radio Broadcast (itself adapted from the hit movie).
“It’s a great show; very poignant in places,” Hanson said,
while noting that playing Santa is a far cry from Mr. Perkins.
Director Cheryl Rudarmel Beam noted that the show will
include updated, custom commercials and feature 11 actors using three
microphones to create the atmosphere of a radio show. Beam noted that the
actors will interact with the live audience, while the production will take all
precautions to stay socially distanced.
“We want families to feel comfortable bringing their
children,” she said, noting that they are not expecting to offer concessions.
Beam added that she hopes the show can bring some happiness
to area families, noting the challenges of the pandemic.
“I hope they embrace the Christmas spirit this year,” she
said. “I know it's been hard for all of us these last few years. At least they
can enjoy a show together; it’s a very heartwarming story.”
SAT presents “Miracle on 34th Street” from Friday, Nov. 26
through Sunday, Dec. 19, at 17433 SE Meinig Avenue in Sandy (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, $13 for children and $15 for
seniors, first responders, students and veterans (reservations are
recommended). For more information, or to make reservations call 503-936-4378
or visit sandyactorstheatre.org.
A preview night will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 23, featuring
the Wy’east Artisans Guild’s “Christmas Presents” exhibit. Tickets for the
preview are $10 and only available at the door.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| School profiles highlight student data, lack assessment data posted on 11/01/2021
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) released the
At-A-Glance School and District Profiles for the 2020-21 school year last
month. The profiles included graduation data along with student and teacher
data.
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the profiles
released last year and this year do not include all of the data found on the
previous versions, with assessment data being reported separately due to lost
participation rates and attendance data also expected in a seperate report.
“The information provided in this year’s at-a-glance is very
limited, but the bullet points about our programs and opportunities for parent
engagement are useful take-aways,” Welches Schools Principal Kendra Payne wrote
in an email to The Mountain Times, while noting the Oregon Trail School
District opted out of the state assessments year but will participate next
spring.
Despite the lack of state assessment data, Payne wrote that
teachers have continued to use formative assessments in classrooms to determine
whether students understand the content and are ready to move forward. Teachers
also use other methods for gathering data around student learning, she added,
including Acadience, a screener that helps determine whether elementary
students need small group support.
“We also use a standards-based assessment called iReady that
helps teachers plan for reading and math instruction,” Payne wrote. “These
assessments have been utilized consistently over the past two years, and
continue to give teachers meaningful data about their students.”
Payne cited the district’s focus on meeting individual
student’s needs as the district’s biggest strength, while the Welches Schools’
biggest strength is in building relationships with students and families.
“Our strength is in our community, and that will help us
serve the increased needs of our students,” she noted.
Payne added that a variety of programs have been expanded
and refined to help improve student achievement in the past two years,
including refining the Response to Instruction & Intervention system to
make data-based decisions about student supports at the elementary level and
revamped electives and the advisory program at the middle school level.
“Our knowledge of our reading programs has grown through
practice applying them in virtual and in-person settings,” she noted. “We will
continue to refine our instructional practices to maximize student growth.”
To view the ODE At-A-Glance School and District Profiles for
the 2020-21 school year, visit https://www.ode.state.or.us.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Photo by Garth Guibord.
Sunday night at dinner time and the Barlow Trail Roadhouse’s
normally bustling dining room is empty with a “Closed” sign on the door. This
scene played out several times over the summer, not as a result of state
mandates or an outbreak of illness, but from a lack of prepared food to serve
the public.
“We call it ‘Sold out Sundays.’ It’s five o’clock on Sunday
and we’re out of food. Sorry to laugh, but it’s weird,” said Sue Exley,
co-owner of the Barlow Trail Roadhouse in Welches.
Local restaurants have reported record sales since reopening
for dining in the spring. The boom in business has presented new challenges as
restaurant owners navigate supply chain issues, food cost increases and labor
shortages all impacted by the pandemic.
Local restaurateurs described frequently encountering empty
shelves at the restaurant supply stores over the summer and having to go to as
many as four or five different stores to get goods needed for their
restaurants.
“The chef stores have been 33 percent empty (this season),”
said Rick Exley, co-owner of the Barlow Trail Roadhouse.
Exley stated he’s driven the 60-mile round trip to Gresham
to get menu items multiple times a week to stay up with customer demand.
Local restaurant owners stated that the restaurant food
distributors that supply the area’s restaurants have struggled to make
deliveries and have the same food shortages and price increases.
“The suppliers basically don’t have enough drivers and
warehouse pickers,” said Tom Anderson, owner of the Rendezvous Grill in
Welches.
Rick Exley stated a distributor he has worked with, Harbor
Foodservice has ended service to the Mount Hood Region due to a lack of
drivers. He added that other products he uses have been unavailable due to
COVID-19 outbreaks at the production facilities.
“COVID-19 and quarantines are still hitting the big
distributors,” Exley said.
Some in the community are shifting where they get their food
in response to the shortages and to support the local community.
“We try as much as possible to get locally grown and
produced goods to step away from the big box restaurant supplier,” said Robin
Klein, owner of Al Forno Ferruzza in Rhododendron.
After operating for months with scaled-back crews offering
mainly take out, local restaurants have found themselves understaffed for the
surge in customer demand over the summer.
“We’re so busy we can’t keep up,” Sue Exley said. “It’s
unprecedented; it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen in 18 years.”
“We’re chronically short on labor,” Klein added.
Labor shortages during re-opening have been reported by
restaurants nationwide. Mount Hood business owners noted the small labor pool
in the community has amplified the issue in the region.
“It’s even more severe for us on the mountain,” Sue Exley
said.
She also cited a lack of affordable housing for workers,
extended unemployment benefits, childcare and workers transitioning to other
more consistent employment as factors.
“People got tired of being the yo-yo on the string,” Exley
added about the multiple shutdowns and re-openings of the region’s restaurants
over the past year and a half.
The Rendezvous Grill has scaled back hours of operation to
retain its core of long-term employees.
“We’ve held on to our basic staff that we’ve had for years
and years,” Anderson said. “A restaurant is a human resources business. They
cook it; they clean it, and they sell it. (By reducing hours of operation)
we’ve been able to focus on our core crew.”
Mount Hood area restaurateurs cite lessons in adaptability
learned from the highly seasonal nature of business as key for overcoming
obstacles in the past year.
“What’s cool about the Mountain is that people are already
adaptable. They’re ready to put on a jacket and eat outside. We’ve been able to
adapt to new mandates, windstorms, fires and power outages and keep the
business going,” Klein said.
“The public has been very supportive. We’re lucky to be in
the community,” said Anderson. “We open at three and see what happens. It’s an
adventure every day.”
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Park district effort has Nov. 15 petition deadline posted on 10/01/2021
After being delayed for more than a year, organizers of a
potential Hoodland Park District restarted efforts with a rally held on
Tuesday, Sept. 14 to help enlist volunteers to circulate a petition.
Approximately 750 signatures will be need by Monday, Nov. 15 in order for the
district to go a vote on the May 17, 2022 ballot.
“Awesome, more exciting than ever,” Regina Lythgoe, one of
the organizers, said in describing the starting effort.
The proposed district, which had originally been proposed
for the November 2020 election, would encompass approximately 20,000 acres,
including the communities of Sleepy Hollow, Brightwood, Wemme, Welches, Zigzag,
Rhododendron, Government Camp and Wapinitia, and feature a board of directors
that will be elected on the same ballot. If formed, the district would receive
three parcels along Salmon River Road gifted by Clackamas County, including the
site of the former Dorman Center, which features the current community garden.
The district would develop the Dorman Center site as a
community park, with proposed amenities possibly including a pavilion,
playground, walking trails, extended community garden, bike pump track, skate
park, dog park, space for farmers market, restrooms and onsite security. The
district would be funded by a local property tax, proposed to be at
approximately 67 cents per $1,000 of assessed value (resulting in approximately
$200 per year on a house with an assessed value of $300,000).
Becky Fortune, who raised five boys on the Mountain and
attended the September rally, noted that there were limited options for
activities for her children, adding that her boys would frequently travel to
Sandy to use the skateboard park there.
“It was a challenge,” Fortune said.
Fortune started working at the Welches Schools more than 20
years ago and recalled a number of grant-funded activities she helped
coordinate, including adult classes such as yoga and pilates, art classes
taught by area artists, afterschool programs and more, that only lasted a few
years. She sees an opportunity for a potential park district to collaborate
with various organizations on the Mountain to return some of those offerings
for the community.
“I visualize being able to bring that back,” Fortune said.
“We wouldn’t necessarily have to build a community center, but work with the
school district for facilities.”
The district would also open the opportunity for other land
in the community to be purchased or gifted, with a number of potential
developments throughout the Mountain, such as bike and pedestrian trails
connecting Mountain communities, an ice skating rink, a swimming pool and more.
Organizers also noted that grant funding would be available to the district for
projects, such a skate park, or for acquisitions, while the community would
help determine the components and design of a proposed park.
If the district fails to form, organizers noted the parcels
of land will be sold by Clackamas County.
More info hoodlandparkdistrict@gmail.com or visit
www.hoodlandwomensclub.org.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Hoodland Fire receives grant for new breathing apparatus posted on 10/01/2021
While many imagine the breathing apparatus firefighters are
frequently shown wearing into a fiery environment is an oxygen tank, it
contains regular breathing air, which consists of only 21 percent oxygen.
“Pure oxygen in a fire isn’t a good thing,” said Scott
Kline, Division Chief for Hoodland Fire District, pointing out one of the many
potential dangers firefighters encounter in the line of duty.
The Hoodland Fire District (HFD) was awarded a Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in
August for the replacement of all the district’s Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatus (SCBA). The annual grants have been offered by FEMA since 2001 to
provide funding for “critically needed resources necessary for protecting the
public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.”
“A SCBA is worn any time we’re working in an IDOH (In Danger
of Hazard) environment,” said Kline.
A SCBA consists of a facemask, backpack, straps and a tank.
The grant money will enable the district to purchase 31 masks and packs, 62
refillable bottles and 10 extra masks.
The updated protective gear will cost $220,398 with $209,900
provided from FEMA funds and the district providing five percent in matching
funds, or approximately $10,495.
The SCBAs are evaluated for safe use based on National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA) standards. The district’s current SCBAs were last
upgraded in 2008 and met 2007 standards at the time.
Kline explained the district was expecting to have to phase
out and replace these devices next year.
“Next year (our current devices) will not meet the safety
standard set forth by the NFPA,” Kline said.
The updated standards will render the 15-year-old SCBAs
obsolete. The district will not be able to donate the gear to another district
for use.
Each bottle contains 45 minutes of regular breathing air for
use in the field before a replacement bottle is needed. HFD has a compressor to
refill and reuse the tanks at the station.
HFD will begin receiving sample SCBAs from manufacturers for
evaluation and testing, followed by a bid request, purchasing and fulfillment
over the next six months before receiving the new devices.
More information about the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters
Grant program is available online at https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters.
HFD can be contacted at hoodland@hoodlandfire.org.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Friends of Timberline auction focuses on experiences posted on 10/01/2021
Last year, the Friends of Timberline (FOT) shifted its
annual auction to be an online event, offering some unexpected challenges,
including trying to understand the software to make it happen.
“It was a big learning process,” said Laura Henderson, FOT
Vice President and Chair of the 2021 FOT Auction. “We survived it and we got
through it.”
This year, the auction returns in an online form again, with
a focus on offering bidders the chance to win a variety of outdoor experiences,
including a guided hike on the south side of Mount Hood, the chance to visit a
master gardener’s garden and a unique fly-tying experience.
“I would love to do that,” Henderson said. “In the time of
COVID, those (outdoor experiences) are important to people.”
Other auction items include an original Pucci chair from the
Timberline ski lift, a vintage Puccci scarf, embossed prints, a custom bench
and pillow upholstered with Pendleton fabric, Timberline Lodge related art and
collectibles and more.
Things kick off at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2 with a live
broadcast from Timberline Lodge, which will offer an update on the restoration
of the naturalistic pools at the lodge. The auction's start will take place at
approximately 6 p.m.
Henderson noted that there was a dedication in September for
the pools, an ongoing project for FOT that has now been completed.
“It’s just a beautiful and special place,” she said.
Henderson added that the auction is one of the key
opportunities for the organization to do fundraising. FOT will celebrate its
50th anniversary in a few years, and Henderson hopes that a future project will
include preserving its history and stories through videos.
“That’s one of the things that’s on the horizon that we’re
starting now to do fundraising and planning,” she said.
Auction participants can preregister for the event at www.friendsoftimberline.org,
and all registered bidders receive a Columbia Sportswear pass to the Employee
Store in Southwest Portland. The auction will run from Saturday, Oct. 2 through
Wednesday, Oct. 6.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Photo by Garth Guibord.
Last month, students returned to the Welches School for a
full day of education for the first time in nearly 18 months. After more than a
year of virtual learning and a limited return to the classroom, the kids were
ready.
“I’m really excited to go back because my mom was going to
make me go back to virtual, but then she realized I should probably come back
to school to see my friends more,” third grader Bryan Califf said. “I’m really
happy about that.”
Eighth grader Xavier Davis was surprised about how going
back to school was easier than he anticipated, noting that the biggest
differences was having to see people and his sudden lack of ability to grab a
bite to eat.
“I would just stand up, turn my camera off, go downstairs,
get food and come back,” Davis said about his experience in virtual learning,
adding that it wasn’t much fun to work on the assignments he was given without
talking to anybody about them.
Fellow eighth grader Emma Mayer noted that the time away
from school impacted her social skills, while paying attention was a challenge with
so many distractions at home. That made the return to school a pleasant one,
but still a challenge with the sudden return of so many classmates.
“It was good, a little nerve wracking with so many people,”
Mayer said.
Third grader Wren Schreiner spent her first year at the
schools mostly learning from home, meaning her return to school this fall also
includes meeting her new classmates in person.
“I am really excited to get to know everybody here and get
some new friends,” she said, adding that she loves how small the school is
after going to one that was “huge.” “I had a really fun time there, but now at
Welches I’ve been having way more fun.”
And while fifth grader Gunnar London is excited to see his
teacher and friends in person, he did note a couple things that were pleasant
about his time learning at home.
“I do miss the mute button,” he said, “And it was nice that
I didn't have to wake up in the morning.”
Principal Kendra Payne noted the start of the school year
did have a few challenges, including an impact from the bus driver shortage
that is felt throughout the state and the need to refine the loop for parents
to drive through and pick up their children. But she also wanted to thank the
community for helping to make the best of it all.
“We just really appreciate everybody's patience,” Payne
said. “I’m just really grateful for the community.”
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Effort to recall County Commissioner Mark Shull underway posted on 09/01/2021
Organizers of a recall effort for Clackamas County
Commissioner Mark Shull have started the prep work before they file the
official petition, which is expected sometime this fall. Cris Waller, who is
expected to be the Chief Petitioner, told The Mountain Times that 50 volunteers
have been trained and are collecting pledges to sign the petition.
“In that way, what we are hoping to do is ensure that before
we pull that trigger, we have enough support, we have enough people lined up to
sign,” Waller said. “We want to make sure that once we say ‘go’ we are going to
succeed and get this on the ballot.”
Shull, who took office in January, came under fire for
offensive and racist comments posted on social media.
“We’re continuing to see that behavior,” Waller said.
Once a petition is filed, the organizers will have 90 days
to submit approximately 30,000 valid signatures from voters from the district
to recall Shull. A signature verification process will follow; if the petition
fails to meet the number of valid signatures the process is stopped, while if
the petition does have sufficient signatures, Shull can either resign within
five days or face a recall election within approximately one month.
Mike Silvagio, another one of the organizers on the effort
to recall Shull, noted that their goal is to have 40,000 signatures, as
validity rates in most recall efforts come in around 75-80 percent.
“I’ve done this a number of times, familiar with campaigns
that squeak in and others that exceed expectations,” Silvagio said, adding that
they have learned from recent recall efforts on how to better prepare to get
the necessary signatures, including one on Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.
Silvagio noted that the passage of Oregon Senate Bill 761
from the 2019 regular session changed how signatures can be obtained. The new
law, in effect since 2020, requires that only electors who have a personally
printed copy (or requested a print copy from someone) of an electronic
signature sheet for a petition or prospective petition may sign a signature
sheet.
“A lot of this is breaking new ground,” Silvagio said,
adding that electronic signature sheets are important due to the ongoing COVID
pandemic. “So far we’re on track. We’ve got a really good head start on that
90-day period.”
Shull told The Mountain Times that he expected the recall
effort after he was elected.
“I knew this was coming,” he said, adding that he doesn’t
believe that anybody he’s dealt with would accuse him of being a xenophobe,
homophobe or racist. Shull also noted that he delivered a statement to Muslim
leaders from Portland, calling that a “resolved issue.”
Shull does not plan on campaigning against the recall
petition and remains intent on doing his job as a commissioner.
“That, in and of itself, is all I should do to counteract
any efforts on the recall,” he said, adding that he has no political advisors
working for him. “More and more people have watched my performance and are very
comfortable with me as a commissioner. That is what I believe is important.”
Shull said that his approach to being a commissioner is to
represent everybody in the county and that he would not resign if enough
signatures on the petition are verified, but he would “happily go home and go
about (his) business” if the recall vote doesn’t go his way.
“I got elected by the people of Clackamas County, I intend
to serve them,” Shull said, adding that he is convinced that in the end he will
prevail.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Fish, forestry and more in new natural resources magazine posted on 09/01/2021
Years ago, Mountain resident Steve Wilent attended a joint
workshop that featured different forestry and wildlife groups from Oregon and
Washington. In some meetings, they listened to presentations on managing
wildlife and forestry.
“We have a lot in common,” Wilent said. “I thought a
magazine that could bring out that same kind of info sharing, technique sharing
and support would go over well.”
Last month, Wilent published the first edition of that
magazine, “Natural Resources Management Today.” The free monthly release
includes insights and updates on fish, forests, range, wildlife and water, and
will also venture into a variety of other topics, such as wildland fire, carbon
sequestration and markets, ecosystem services, GIS and remote sensing, natural
resources management education, recreation, urban parks and green spaces.
Wilent, who served as the editor of the monthly newspaper of
the Society of American Foresters, called “The Forestry Source,” from 2004
until this year and as a forestry and natural resources instructor at Mt. Hood
Community College since 1996, noted there hasn’t been a publication that offers
crossover opportunities for these various fields and the number of people who
could be interested in it is large. There are more than 250,000 natural
resource management professionals in the U.S., plus approximately 119,000
students at more than 1,000 institutions of higher learning within the field.
And there’s more by adding professionals in Mexico and Canada to the tally,
plus any landowners and other stakeholders who may be interested in these
topics.
The inaugural edition includes stories on private forests,
the pressure of a growing population on southern timberland owners,
technological innovation in fighting wildfires, a student profile (a feature
that will be in every edition) and more.
Wilent, who is also a former publisher of The Mountain
Times, noted that the reaction to his first edition has been positive, but he’s
not looking to rest on his laurels.
“I want to know how it can be made better,” he said. “I
invite that kind of feedback from readers, with the goal of making it a better
newsletter.”
Wilent added that wildfire coverage will be a continuous
thread throughout the magazine, thanks to the topic involving more than just
forests.
“That’s an important topic for the nation,” he said, “It’s a
huge topic that will be covered to some degree in just about every edition.”
He also hopes to have more coverage on technology,
specifically drones, which are used in a wide range of natural resource
management areas, such as stream surveys, vegetation and fish habitat and more.
“Instead of having a crew walk up the stream, they get all
this data and more,” Wilent said. “You still need to have people in the woods,
but the drone is a tool that helps capture a great area.”
The magazine will also give back to the natural resource
management community through a $2,000 scholarship, open to students enrolled in
2022 in undergraduate and master’s in natural resources degree programs. And at
some point down the road, Wilent also hopes to offer an internship program.
“That’s a priority for me, get students involved,” he said.
"Natural Resources Management Today" is free and
can be viewed as a PDF by registering at https://nrmtoday.com/.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Fire district's new 'game changer' mobile response network posted on 09/01/2021
Before this past spring, the Hoodland Fire District (HFD)
used iPads connected to cellular networks to manage incidence response data.
“If we didn’t have cell service, we lost everything,” Brian
Henrichs, HFD Division Chief for Operations and Training, stated.
That issue was solved when the district acquired and
installed Cradlepoint LTE mobile data centers (MDC) for all the district’s
emergency response vehicles in May.
The Cradlepoint LTE emergency network greatly improves the
district’s ability to access important, time-sensitive information when
responding to calls in parts of the district where cellular service is limited,
stated Henrichs.
“The (data centers) have been a game changer,” Henrichs
said. “We used to have to pay close attention when responding in areas out of
cellular range, but the new Cradlepoint network gives us close to real-time
data throughout the district.”
Funding for the MDCs was made possible by a Special
Districts Association of Oregon coronavirus relief fund grant. The system cost
the district approximately $114,000 to equip 12 vehicles altogether.
“This purchase wouldn’t be possible without the coronavirus
grant,” Henrichs stated. “It would have otherwise taken the district years to
fund the MDCs.”
The district ordered the Cradlepoint system with the grant
money in October of 2020, but encountered delays due to the devices being
backordered that prevented the district from equipping the vehicles until the
spring.
HFD field tested the devices in areas of the district
without cellular connectivity before making the purchase and found that the new
network provides comprehensive coverage in the Mount Hood communities. The MDCs
are equipped with built-in GPS tracker and hard-loaded maps including hydrants
and water supply access points to assure accurate location data regardless of
data connectivity.
The Cradlepoint network also protects and secures patient
data by providing enterprise-grade network security that ensure data remains
protected and HIPAA compliant.
“The safeguards on patient information add another
protective layer to privacy for the public,” Henrichs said.
The Cradlepoint network makes district firefighters less
reliant on emergency dispatchers for incident information and time-sensitive
updates. The network updates every 15 seconds assuring the responders have the
latest information from police and other first-responders while in-route.
“Sometimes communication with dispatch can be delayed. (The
MDC’s) take that delay out of the equation during incident response,” Henrichs
said.
The data centers provide the firefighters with multiple
layers of maps including Google Earth, a topographical map, and the ability to
measure distance from the vehicle to a location on the map. This feature is
useful to get a rough estimate for hose lay in the case of a wildfire or
structure fire with no direct vehicle access.
The Cradlepoint mobile emergency data network is also
utilized by Clackamas County Sheriff’s Department and the Clackamas County Fire
District.
Henrichs stated that he was familiar with the system from
his tenure working with American Medical Response and had been interested in
acquiring the technology since he joined HFD. “It’s a huge benefit for the
district,” he said.
For more information on HFD, visit
https://www.hoodlandfire.us.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
|  Photo by Garth Guibord.
Robin Parker’s journey into Mexican food began at a young
age. Growing up as an adopted child in Whittier, Calif., she wanted to be a
part of a big family she didn’t have but connected with a Hispanic family down
the street.
“I loved how all of the family members would be in the
kitchen together cooking and all of the smells,” Parker wrote in an email to
the Mountain Times. “I loved how we all sat at the table together eating with
tortillas (no forks) and listening to everyone speaking Spanish, from then on,
I was hooked!”
The latest step in the journey is her new restaurant,
ChiCali Cantina, 68256 Hwy. 26 in Welches (in the Hoodland Park Plaza),
offering Mexican and American cuisine based on her experiences in the Baja
region and in Southern California. Parker noted the menu will appeal to both
locals and tourists, with creative twists on Mexican food “without being too
fussy or fancy.”
She added that menu items will be made from scratch and
using high-quality ingredients, including made-to order guacamole, salsas and
enchilada sauces from dried chiles that are shipped in, their own poblano
cheese sauce for nachos, a house-made ice cream featuring a habanero salted
caramel sauce and seasonal dishes featuring high-quality steak cuts and fresh
seafood, such as stuffed jumbo shrimp. In addition to the Mexican cuisine,
ChiCali Cantina will also offer burgers, specialty salads and beach-inspired
fresh fruit bowls.
The beverage list will include whole fruit and fresh-squeezed
margaritas, tequila flights and other creative cocktails and west coast wines.
“We have put our heart and soul into creating an experience
that represents the same vision and passion that was put into creating our
food, as well as investing in our community,” Parker added. “Our atmosphere
incorporates a sense of being on vacation blending nature, a fun beach-y vibe,
and a warm inviting lounge and outdoor area to gather by the fireplaces.”
The restaurant’s vision stems from her food and travel
experiences, including time spent in the Baja region, southern California and
in Arizona.
“We traveled to Cabo annually for about 16 years and were
kindly invited into many kitchens on my travels and learned a lot of salsas and
other dishes, lots of fun,” Parker noted. “From my travels, I always dreamt of
having a place where you can enjoy taqueria style tacos and well-made
margaritas in a great environment.”
She began her career in the industry as a personal chef,
then catered to CEOs at some of the largest companies around Portland and then
spent time on a consulting team that offered front and back-of-house training,
menu development, food costing and more.
Opening ChiCali Cantina offered the unique challenge of the
coronavirus pandemic, adding to the costs of building materials, lead times,
permits and food.
“We are grateful for the ability to build our dream and are
compassionate for our friends and fellow restauranteurs who greatly suffered
the aftermath of unprecedented times,” Parker wrote.
The restaurant will also offer a Mexican-inspired Sunday
brunch featuring fresh-squeezed mimosas, pasilla Bloody Marys, huevos
rancheros, chilaquiles and cornmeal pancakes with candied bacon and
orange-infused maple syrup. ChiCali Cantina is a family-friendly restaurant
(serving cotton candy to kids on Sundays) and has a large patio that is also
dog friendly (with a dog menu).
ChiCali Cantina is open Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m.
to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to
6 p.m. (the restaurant is closed on Monday and Tuesday). Happier Hour is from
2-4 p.m. daily.
For more information, visit www.chicalicantina.com or call
503-564-9091.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| New owners keep the wine flowing at Cooper's posted on 09/01/2021
Cooper’s Wine Bar and Shop in Welches will “pass the bottle”
to new ownership starting in September. A current employee, Bri Dittlinger, and
business partners will take over the establishment and continue the legacy of
Cooper’s by keeping the wine flowing when long-term owners Shannon and John
Thompson relocate to Hood River.
The new owners are hosting a grand reopening party with live
music, appetizers and a local tasting event from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, to
celebrate their new adventure as wine shop owners.
“It’s been a dream that sparked into a reality,” Dittlinger
said about the decision to purchase the shop. “We wanted to make sure
(Cooper’s) stayed in the community.”
Dittlinger is purchasing the business with her husband,
Kevin, and another couple, Michael Morlan and Ryan Black. The two couples met
while neighbors in the Mount Hood RV Village. They bonded over a common
background of growing up in the St. Louis area, similar career paths and a
shared interest in wine. The four were regulars at Cooper’s when Dittlinger
began working parttime two years ago with Shannon Thompson, who mentored her on
working in the industry.
“(Shannon) knew when she was mentoring me that I was
interested in owning a shop. When the opportunity came up, I knew I did not
want to let it go, and that we four have a friendship solid enough to open a
business together,” Dittlinger said.
The shop will continue to offer a selection of local and
imported wine with a focus on west coast and northwest regional wines. The shop
features a “Mountain Local” section that offers 30 bottles produced within 100
miles of Mount Hood.
All four owners will work at the shop pouring wine and beer
and offering guidance on the selection. September will mark the return of
Cooper’s hosting beer and wine tastings, as well as offering beer and wine by
the glass and charcuterie plates. The wine glass pours consist of four reds,
three whites and a sparkling wine selection and will rotate every week. Tasting
flights are available of any four of the eight glass pours.
The shop will resume hosting wine tastings from local
wineries on the second Friday of each month. The local tastings will begin on
Friday, Oct. 8 with wine from Wy’east Vineyards in Hood River.
“We want to continue to offer an inclusive and open space to
gather in the community. Our goal is to have a business where anyone can show
up and feel welcome,” Dittlinger said.
Community members are invited to come meet the new owners at
the Sept. 10 re-opening party and enjoy live music and food provided from the
neighboring cantina.
Cooper’s Wine Bar and Shop is located at 24540 East Welches
Road in Welches. New hours for the shop in September will be 3-9 p.m. Wednesday
through Friday and 1-9 p.m. Saturday.
Cooper’s offers indoor and outdoor seating.
More information is available on the establishment’s Facebook
page at https://www.facebook.com/cooperswines/ or by phone at 503-662-2025.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Dental clinic returns in early October posted on 09/01/2021
Tami Beaty, Director of the free dental clinic being held
next month at the Sandy Seventh day Adventist Church, understands that people
may not be prioritizing tooth health during these tough times.
“It’s been very apparent that there’s a lot of people that
need this care,” she said, noting the challenges of the pandemic and that money
is likely going to other needs.
The clinic, which first started in 2018 but was not held
last year due to COVID-19, will offer a variety of dental services, including
fillings, extractions, cleanings, x-rays and a new addition this year, crowns.
“We’re super excited about that,” Beaty said.
She also noted that people can get “flippers,” which are
essentially dentures for a small number of teeth where people may be missing
them.
“That can really make a difference when someone is going to
a job interview,” Beaty said. “This is about people’s livelihoods, making their
lives better, fuller.”
The last clinic (in 2019) served more than 100 patients and
this year members of the Mount Hood Community College dental hygiene program
will be on hand to help as many people as possible.
“We are going to try to get people through as fast as we
can,” Beaty said. “It seems like every year we push harder to get people
through.”
The clinic will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3 at
the Sandy Seventh day Adventist Church, 18575 SE Langensand Road in Sandy.
Beaty noted that patients should arrive early to start going through medical
clearance for the clinic. No appointments are necessary, and the event will be
first come, first serve for treatments.
There will be a limit of one service per patient, but Beaty
added that during the times when there aren’t as many patients, people can go
through the process again to receive further treatment. Root canals will not be
offered.
The event will also feature free clothing for everyone who
needs it, as well as free books and free baby equipment. Beaty also hopes to offer
free food boxes during the clinic.
Beaty also added that if any dental assistants or dentists
are interested in volunteering for the event, or if anyone has questions about
it, to contact her at 503-698-4622.
Patients are asked to bring their owns masks to the clinic.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| End of Summer Festival brings the tunes posted on 09/01/2021
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Sandy Area Chamber of
Commerce has worked hard to help area businesses, including partnering with
other chambers and Clackamas County for a business recovery center.
This month, the chamber will offer up some good vibes with
its End of Summer Festival, similar to the annual Music Fair and Feast.
“It’s great to have something to focus on that’s positive,”
said Khrys Jones, the chamber’s Executive Director. “From what I've heard,
people are just ready to go do something.”
The event will take place on Friday, Sept. 10 and Saturday,
Sept. 11 at Sandy’s Centennial Plaza, 39295 Pioneer Blvd. Friday night will
feature two musical acts, the Wil Kinky Trio and Jennifer Batten and Full
Steam, along with food and a beer garden (doors open at 5 p.m. and music ends
at midnight).
Saturday’s offerings (doors open at noon and festivities run
until midnight) will include the Sandy Kiwanis motorcycle show (winners
announced at 2 p.m.), a Kid’s Zone activities area from noon to 6 p.m., family
bingo at 3 p.m., a photo booth from 4-7 p.m. and live music starting at 4 p.m.
The musical acts (in order) will be BBLUEZMANBAND at 4 p.m., Chris Carpenter
& The Collective at 6 p.m. and Nightlife starting at 9 p.m.
Jones noted that the event features a few more local bands
than in the past, offering more of a community feel, while some people may be
familiar with Jennifer Batton for playing guitar with Michael Jackson.
Food offerings are expected to include barbeque, nachos,
baked potatoes, pastries and more. Jones added that masks will be required, but
she hopes to have plenty of tables and chairs available to help people spread
out.
General admission tickets (good for one night) are $10, VIP
one-night tickets (including no-line entrance, entrance for one day, two drink
tickets and a commemorative koozie) are $20 and VIP two-night tickets
(including no-line entrance, entrance for both days, four drink tickets and a
commemorative koozie) are $35. For more information, visit https://sandyoregonchamber.org/.
Further updates will be posted on the website and the
chamber’s social media accounts.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Contributed photo.
On Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, the Rhododendron Community
Planning Organization (CPO) held what was to be the first of two celebrations
that year to mark the community’s 100th anniversary of the U.S. Postal Service
commissioning the Rhododendron Post Office. More than 18 months later, the
second celebration (delayed by the pandemic) will go on.
“We’re excited about it,” said Steve Graeper, CPO President.
The celebration, held simultaneously with the Mt. Hood
Cultural Center and Museum’s (MHCC) Steiner Cabin Tour on Saturday, Aug. 14,
will offer looks into the community’s past, present and future, featuring
kiosks from various organizations, a rhododendron plant sale, a special postmark
cancellation created by Mountain artist Sue Allen and more.
Organizations taking part are expected to include Clackamas
County, U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Mt. Hood Area Chamber of
Commerce, the U.S. Forest Service (Zigzag Ranger Station), a display by the
MHCC at the Log Lodge and a master gardener.
Graeper added a food cart may also be included and crossing
guards will be on hand to make sure visitors can safely cross Hwy. 26.
Graeper also noted a report on the possibility of developing
the core of Rhododendron will be available for people to look at.
“Hopefully we can start getting the downtown core
developed,” he said, adding that a “road diet” could be considered to help slow
traffic (see Graeper’s commentary on Page 6 of this issue for more).
The unincorporated community of Rhododendron was originally
formed in 1909 as Rowe, with a post office named after Portland mayor Henry S.
Rowe. In 1917, the Rowe post office was renamed Zig Zag with the spelling later
changed to Zigzag.
Rowe built the Rhododendron Inn in 1905, a destination that
attracted visitors from Portland, who took the Mt. Hood Loop Highway for a
daylong journey to arrive there.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Hoodland Fire personnel join Bootleg Fire effort posted on 08/01/2021
The Hoodland Fire District (HFD) deployed three personnel
and a type 6 fire engine on July 10 to assist at the Bootleg Fire, one of the
largest fires in the state’s history.
The blaze has burned more than 380,000 acres in the
Fremont-Winema National Forest in southern Oregon since July 6, as widespread
drought conditions and record temperatures have brought fire conditions a month
early to the entire region.
“This is the driest it’s ever been this early,” HFD chief
Jim Price said on July 14. “It’s at least August-dry a month ahead of usual.”
HFD’s Lt. Andrew Figini was deployed at the Bootleg Fire on
the State Fire Marshal’s Blue Incident Management Team. HFD’s Lt. Eric Macy and
firefighter Dawson Kooch joined Brush 353 as part of a Clackamas County task
force deployed to assist with the wildfire.
Chief Price stated that deployment was limited to three
personnel because the district “doesn’t have any more (staff) to spare.” He
added that despite the shortage of available personnel that HFD “has it
covered, and things will ease up,” when more personnel return from scheduled
leave.
Chief Price stressed the importance of helping elsewhere in
the state and said, “It could be our turn next, and they could be up here
helping us.”
He also urged members of the Mount Hood communities to be
aware of the elevated risk of fire on the mountain stating, “Fuels in the area
are very dry, and extreme caution is encouraged.”
Price stated that in mid-July the Mount Hood area was
already at Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) II on the Oregon Department
of Forestry’s (ODF) fire protection guidelines for areas west of the Cascades.
IFPL I began on June 25 and marked the declaration of fire season by ODF. IFPL
II includes limited shutdowns and restrictions on industrial operations in the
region’s forests.
Community members are advised to prepare for potential
public safety power shutoffs, wildfires and potential evacuations.
Power was shut off for many Mount Hood residents in
September of 2020 as wildfires raced through the region.
“I would not be surprised if at some point (a shut off)
happens again,” Chief Price said.
Sign up for Clackamas County Public Alerts at
https://member.everbridge.net/index/892807736729067#/signup.
Be prepared for
public safety power shutoffs, visit
https://portlandgeneral.com/outages-safety/be-prepared/prepare-your-home.
Be prepared for wildfires and potential evacuations if
required, find more information at https://www.ready.gov/wildfires.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
|  Photo by Peggy Wallace
Anita Halmøy Wisløff-Menteer and Erik Sims Wisløff-Menteer,
owners of the Log Lodge in Rhododendron and Bestie’s Coffee, were awarded an
Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (OSHPO) grant in July to aid with the
restoration of the historic log building, originally constructed by William
Lenz in 1929.
“We’re very happy to be recognized,” Anita said. “We were
drawn to the building originally because it has a lot of soul and stories. We
definitely knew how much work it would be.”
The OSHPO "Diamonds in the Rough" grants provide
funding to restore or reconstruct the facades of historic buildings that have
been heavily altered and return them to their original appearance. The
reconstruction is funded by the state in an effort to qualify buildings for
historic register designation (local or national).
The Log Lodge, located at 73330 Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron, is
one of several log structures and frame buildings built by Lenz in the Mount
Hood region during the 1920s and 30s. Other notable public houses constructed
by Lenz include the Barlow Trail Inn, the Brightwood Tavern and the Traveler’s Roost,
now known as the Zigzag Inn and Restaurant.
“The lodge has near 100 years of history to it. We’re hoping
by restoring it that it’ll have many more,” Erik said.
The building was originally used as a music or meeting hall
and then became a bar named the Log Lodge from the 1940s to the 1970s. The
couple intend to keep the name and return the building to its use as a public
house and lounge where locals and visitors to the mountain can congregate for
drinks and good food.
“The lodge has a great room with a double-sided fireplace
that is very iconic of the region,” Erik said.
The couple has enlisted David C. Rogers, renowned regional
log builder and preservation expert, for the reconstruction process, as well as
PMA Architects.
“We’re not just putting a band-aid on it,” Erik said about
the couple’s commitment to maintain key structural elements of the log
building’s original design.
The grant is part of OSHPO’s Preserving Oregon Grant program
and is supported in part by the Oregon Cultural Trust. Grants are awarded for
amounts up to $20,000 and are matched by funds from the grantee. The grants are
awarded annually for four to six projects across the state.
The couple have temporarily closed Bestie’s Coffee while
they focus on the renovation project. They intend to reopen the coffee shop in
its new home in the lodge in the fall of 2021 and have the new lounge
operational in 2022.
The grant application process was aided by support from the
Rhododendron Community Planning Organization and the Mt. Hood Cultural Center
and Museum, who helped the couple gain insight into the history of the building
in the community.
“Over time we’ve realized what a cultural anchor the lodge
has been,” Anita said. “We feel a lot of support from the community (for the
project).”
Anita invites any citizens with photos or stories about the
lodge to contact the couple as they continue to map out the timeline of the
building in the community.
Updates about the restoration progress will be available
online at https://www.facebook.com/besties.coffee/ and the couple can be
contacted by email at mail@bestiescoffee.net.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| New book on Rhododendron a 'labor of love' for the authors posted on 08/01/2021
In researching the book he wrote with his wife, “Images of
America: Rhododendron,” Steve Graeper learned about some of the unique
characters who helped make the community special. One was Ethel Gallagher, who
was known for dressing to the nines, dancing at the Log Lodge and serving
breakfast at her cafe with curlers in her hair.
“That’s so typical of Rhododendron,” Graeper said. “I wish I
knew Ethel Gallagher.”
The book offers seven chapters and 127 pages on the
community, featuring stories and a bevy of historical photographs throughout
the years.
Graeper noted that during the process of compiling photos
and stories, he and his wife, Judi, were concerned they did not have enough
photographs. But once they started working on the layout, he had to pare back
from the more than 250 photographs they planned on using.
“That was kind of sad,” Graeper said. “What pictures do we
pull, what pictures do we keep; that editing process was tough. Hopefully we
kept the best.”
The book will be available at the Rhododendron Centennial +1
celebration (see story on Page 1 for more details), while Graeper also hopes to
have it for sale at Mountain businesses in the near future. A limited number of
autographed copies are also available for $25.
Graeper offered his thanks to Mary Carol Day and Leslie
Phillips for their help in editing the book.
“We couldn’t have done it without them,” he said.
Graeper added that proceeds from the sales will benefit the
Rhododendron Community Planning Oragnization.
“It was a labor of love for both my wife and my standpoint,”
he said. “We’re very very pleased with how it turned out. We hope the community
is as well. We didn’t do it for ourselves, we did it for the community.”
To order a copy, please email Rhodycpo@gmail.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| It's a bird! Hawkwatch resumes its raptor review posted on 08/01/2021
Hawkwatch International, a nonprofit organization that
focuses on monitoring raptors, has tracked the migration of these birds since
1986, including at Bonney Butte since 1994. Last year, like so many other
aspects of life, the group was unable to collect data on what types of raptors
were migrating.
Starting at the end of August, Hawkwatch International will
restart its efforts at Bonney Butte, lasting through the end of October and
offering a chance for Mountain residents and visitors to learn more about
raptors, from golden eagles to merlins and more (annual counts typically range
from 2,500-4,500 migrant raptors of up to 18 species).
Kirsten Elliott, Hawkwatch International Development and
Communications Director, noted that the lost year of data from 2020 is
unfortunate, but losing more beyond that would be a bigger issue.
“When you have that long term data set, it’s not a massive
problem," Elliott said. “It was so critical for us to open back up this
year, at least for the science, if nothing else.”
Bonney Butte will see a crew of five raptor biologists who
search the skies for migrating raptors between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. every day.
They’ll hopefully be able to note the species of raptor and then tally daily
counts that are available in real time.
Staff will also take part in educational programming and
interpretation, helping visitors understand more about migration ecology,
raptor identification and the group’s research efforts.
Elliott added that there are opportunities for a closer look
as they also lure raptors in and trap them in an effort to tag the bird’s leg
and learn more about its health. Birds are then released, which can make a
strong impression for anyone there to witness it.
“That’s really magical,” Elliott said.
In the past, the group has also held a festival in
Government Camp, but Elliot noted that will not take place this year.
“We hope to bring back festivals, it’s a great way to
connect,” she said. “We love Government Camp.”
Bonney Butte Hawkwatch will run from Friday, Aug. 27 through
Sunday, Oct. 31 and is located on the southeastern flanks of Mount Hood, within
the Mt. Hood National Forest, and approximately six miles southeast of
Government Camp. For directions and a list of suggested items to bring, please
visit https://hawkwatch.org/bonney.
All activities are weather dependent and the best dates to
visit fall between Tuesday, Sept. 7 and Tuesday, Oct. 12. If you are a large
group, please contact Hawkwatch to schedule your visit in advance.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| The Scene on Stage: Action packed August posted on 08/01/2021
When Katie Murphy took on the task of booking just one band
for Sandy Summer Sounds this year, one group came to the top of her head. Scott
Pemberton O Theory (SPOT), with their “Timber Rock” mix of jazz, funk, blues
and rock, was a crowd favorite from the 2017 concert series.
“He just has a really wild, unique way of playing guitar,”
Murphy said of Pemberton, adding that she received more positive comments than
usual regarding the 2017 concert. “It’s almost like an extension of his body.
He makes you happy watching him. He’s an upbeat person.”
SPOT will play from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18, in
Meinig Park (17670 Meinig Ave. in Sandy), part of a celebration of the City of
Sandy’s 110th anniversary, featuring the theme of “Sandy Past and Present.” The
city will also offer movies in the park, free ice cream, Bingo, a “reverse”
parade and more throughout August, all free of charge.
More music will take place in Meinig Park from 3-8 p.m. Saturday,
Aug. 14 with the Sol Path Music Festival, featuring four bands: Ten Spiders,
offering funky, bluesy folk rock; Silent Temple, playing jazz fusion; Flying
Caravan, with psychedelic folk; and the Neptune Bass Association, offering
eclectic reinterpretations of classics in a band of two bass players.
Murphy noted the festival’s origins came from a local group
of professional musicians who were frustrated with not being able to play in
the past 18 months due to the pandemic. They offered to put on the festival
with just minimal help from the city.
“We couldn’t say no to that,” Murphy said. “It made it very
doable.”
She added that unlike in prior years food vendors will not
be on hand, but that people are welcome to bring picnics and beverages to the
park. As of late July, Murphy also noted that visitors should check with the
city’s website (https://www.ci.sandy.or.us/) and the city’s Facebook page to
get any updates on COVID-19 protocols.
The city will offer two movies this month at Meinig Park:
“Raya and the Last Dragon,” about the fantasy world of Kumandra where humans
and dragons live together (rated PG), at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7; and
“Trolls World Tour,” about six different troll tribes scattered over six
different lands (rated PG), at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21. Moviegoers are
encouraged to bring a blanket or some lawn chairs. More events from the city in celebration of its 110th anniversary
include: free ice cream with the Sandy Trolley from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, Aug.
13 on the Sandy Shopper Shuttle Route; city-wide Bingo from Saturday, Aug. 14
to Tuesday, Aug. 23, where citizens can solve clues at local businesses to be
entered in a drawing for prices (cards can be found at Sandy City Hall, the
Sandy Library, local business and more); and a “reverse” parade from Saturday,
Aug. 14 through Saturday, Aug. 28, when local families, neighborhoods,
organizations and more throughout the city will offer decorations for people to
enjoy as they walk, bike or drive around Sandy (those wishing to decorate can register
through the city’s website).
And the city will also hold a celebration from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28, featuring chalk art from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(registration is required through the city’s website) and Visit Todos Juntos,
children’s craft and a prize spinwheel, at the Sandy Library (38980 Proctor
Blvd.). Also on that day, the Sandy Historical Society and the Sandy Actors’
Theatre will bring history to life with a combination of living history
reenactors and historical photographs from Sandy’s past from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
at the Centennial Plaza, 39295 Pioneer Blvd, at the corner of Pioneer and
Hoffman Street. And at 4 p.m. the Wy’east Artisans Guild will dedicate,
“Growing Together” a colorful 120-foot mural, created by Becky Hawley.
For more information, visit https://www.ci.sandy.or.us/.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Photo by Garth Guibord
Suzanne Zoller first tried to go on the annual Steiner Cabin
Tour, offered by the Mount Hood Cultural Center & Museum, in 2017, but the
tickets were sold out. Garrett Stokes planned on going last year, but the event
was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This year, the tour returns on Saturday, Aug. 14, and Zoller
and Stokes will get to enjoy the tour in an unusual fashion: as owners of two
of the seven log cabins hand-built by Henry Steiner and his family during the
1920s and 1930s.
“It’s super exciting,” Zoller said. “It was just a dream we
never thought would come true. (We) never thought we’d have an opportunity to
get a Steiner Cabin and preserve it and restore it.”
Steiner built a number of log cabins in the Mountain
community and beyond, known for their signature architectural features such as
basalt fireplaces, log doors, half log staircases and more. Materials for the
cabins were primarily native materials found around the site, with the only
exceptions being items such as windows and sinks.
This year’s tour, a self-guided walking route through the
community of Rhododendron that will take up to three hours, begins at a
“pop-up” museum at the Log Lodge, 73330 Hwy. 26. Volunteers will greet
participants at each cabin and provide a brief description of the cabin and
owners, while participants will also get to meet the owners and learn more
about their cabins.
Zoller, who grew up in the Portland area and spent time
cross country skiing on Mount Hood, purchased her cabin with her boyfriend in
July 2020. The cabin features a banister classic of Steiner’s work, but also a
built-in bookshelf and a sleeping porch.
She added that the small cabin needed quite a lot of work
and that it remains a work in progress. But her boyfriend spent the winter
peeling and staining logs by hand to start the restoration process.
“When I saw it, it’s just an amazingly cute cabin,” Zoller
said, adding that she expects the chimney and fireplace to be restored in time
for the tour and that she’s also focused on restoring native plants to the
property. “We never expected to get our hands on one.”
Stokes, meanwhile, purchased his Steiner Cabin in September
2020 and moved in that November. He was familiar with the Mountain community
from visiting his son, who lives in Portland, and vacationing on Mount Hood.
And after living in a 100-year-old craftsman house in Seattle, he feels right
at home in his new cabin.
“I’m used to living in old, well built homes,” Stokes said.
“This was a dream come true, to have an authentic Steiner on Mount Hood.”
Stokes noted a number of elements he enjoys, including the
half-log staircase with a unique, curved railing, a lofted ceiling and one
special feature not found in many Steiner Cabins: a bridge.
“Even the floors are just hand-planed,” he said. “That
craftsmanship is just outstanding.”
Stokes’ cabin was in excellent shape, noting that he has
focused on electrical and heating upgrades, but he also added that he’s brought
in some special decor to the cabin. For nine years, Stokes lived close to
Bavaria, where Steiner’s family came from, and he has a cuckoo clock and other
items made from the area now in his cabin.
Lloyd Musser, the museum’s volunteer curator, noted that the
tour (which started 15 years ago) offers a full range of features that Steiner
Cabins are known for, while a couple cabins are now on the second generation of
owners. He added that capacity for the tour is limited to 300 people.
“We’re feeling good,” Musser said about the mood at the
museum. “We didn’t know what to expect when we reopened here.”
Tickets for the 2021 Steiner Cabin Tour will go on sale at 7
a.m. Thursday, July 1, and are available online at the museum’s website,
www.mthoodmuseum.org. Tickets are $35 each for museum members and $40 each for
non-members; they can be paid for with a credit card or via PayPal. All
proceeds will benefit the Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum.
Participants should print a receipt at check-out. This will
be exchanged for the required wrist band and tour map on August 14.
The usual etiquette rules apply: no pets, no high heels, no
strollers in the homes and small children are not recommended. Some cabin
owners may provide and request booties to be worn. Participants can also ride
bicycles on the route.
For additional information, please call the museum at 503-
272-3301.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Birdhouses that are miniature marvels posted on 07/01/2021
Locals stopping in Welches Mountain Building Supply in
Welches recently may have noticed the presence of birdsong or the “not for
sale” sign hanging from an occupied birdhouse outside the store during the
spring and summer months.
The presence of birds contentedly nesting in an intricately
crafted miniature log cabin act as the best advertising imaginable for the
wares of Mount Hood area woodworker Rollo “Dutch” Dutcher.
For the past fourteen years since his retirement, Dutcher
has been crafting artisan quality bird houses that have earned him a strong
local following in the Mount Hood communities for their combination of form,
function and regional style.
“Every spring the swallows pick one or two homes to raise
their families in. We put up a sign saying those houses aren’t available to
sell until fall,” said the owner of Welches Mountain Building Supply, Rochelle
Simonds. Simonds has sold the birdhouses to a steady supply of new and repeat
customers at her store over the past five years.
“With his eye for detail his bird houses are as functional
as they are beautiful,” Simonds added.
Dutcher’s birdhouses are miniature mountain cabins, complete
with cedar-shingled roofs, river-rock masonry, and details such as ornamental
chimneys and fir pillars to complement the aesthetic.
“When I retired I started looking around for something to
do. There’s a lot of birds around here so I picked birdhouses,” said the
84-year-old Dutcher.
Dutcher works from his shop at his family Christmas tree
farm, Dutcher’s Farm, located in Boring where he has lived for the past 54
years.
Dutcher was born in Flint, Michigan and moved to Oregon in
1964. He worked as a carpenter from the age of 18, and later as a general
contractor and cabinet maker for 33 years until he retired at the age of 70.
His birdhouses are made from 60 percent organic, recyclable
material. Dutcher refurbishes used cedar fencing and planes it down at his shop
to make the roof shingles for the houses.
He uses fir branches from the Christmas trees for the rest
of the structure and colored river rock for the masonry.
Dutcher designs the bird houses himself, and they are priced
individually. Dutcher also offers his wares from his family tree farm where his
son sells vegetable starts. He stated that they make for popular gifts and are
frequently purchased in addition to the Christmas trees.
“We love working with Dutch. We finally got him to start
signing his creations because they really are works of art,” said Simonds.
Rollo “Dutch” Dutcher’s birdhouses are available at Welches
Mountain Building Supply, 67250 Hwy. 26 in Welches and at Dutcher’s Farm, 33755
SE Compton Road in Boring.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Huckleberry Half Marathon set for August posted on 07/01/2021
After a one-year hiatus, The Huckleberry Half will once
again host runners on a scenic route that showcases the beauty of Mount Hood
National Forest while offering plenty of challenge and perhaps a sighting of a
Bigfoot or two.
The half marathon will be held on Saturday, Aug. 7 with
packet pickup scheduled to begin at 6:30 a.m. The run starts at Welches Middle
School and follows the Salmon River in Welches. Runners and walkers can choose
to participate in the 5K, 10K, 15K or the half marathon distance categories of
the event.
“My hope is that through this 2021 Huck Half, we can get
back to the ‘heart’ of running events,” wrote Brady Mordhorst, the Huckleberry
Half Race Director, in an email. “Running events used to be great platforms for
local towns, nonprofits, youth groups, etc. to bring people together to enjoy
running/walking. The smaller size (this year) will create a feeling more akin
to the past days of running events.”
This year’s run is limited to 250 and allows more space to
soak in the scenery. The 2019 event had 550 participants, but different
COVID-19 restrictions during the organizing period for this year led to a
reduction in capacity.
This year marks the seventh year for the half marathon. The
run strives to benefit the local community and partners with nonprofits in the
area.
“We have a variety of nonprofits involved and a good portion
of event sales going back to Mt. Hood National Forest,” said Mordhorst. He
added that the race gave more than $7,500 back to the community in 2019.
“We love benefiting the local area, if there is anyone who
would like free vendor space at our Start/Finish line or any nonprofits that
can use fundraising, please reach out to us,” Mordhorst noted. Approximately 50
volunteers from local organizations are slated to help coordinate the run this
year.
Registration cost for the event will cost up to $65,
depending on distance. Registration includes a custom finishers medal, finisher
soft shirt, bib, chip timing and free photos with Bigfoot. There are prizes for
1st, 2nd and 3rd place overall male and female for each distance.
There is no gear check available at the event, but
organizers stated parking is close to the start/finish location. Porta-potties
will be available at the race start and along the route, as well as several aid
stations.
“Our mission this year is focused on getting people back to
running after the pandemic shutdown (we’ve greatly reduced our prices, more
than $30 less than most Portland area events) and helping local businesses,”
said Mordhorst. “If we get people back out running and help businesses recover,
we will be happy.”
Mordhorst is also happy to announce that the Huckleberry
Half Bigfoot mascots will return this year to cheer on runners and pose for
before and after photos.
More details about the run including registration and
contact information are available online at
https://www.huckleberryhalfmarathon.com.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| State reopens as pandemic wanes posted on 07/01/2021
Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed an executive order on
Friday, June 25 to lift all remaining COVID-19 restrictions issued under
Oregon’s emergency statuses, ushering in a big step in the road to recovery.
Restrictions were to be lifted either when the state achieves 70 percent of
adults having received their first dose or on Wednesday, June 30, whichever
came first.
“I’m proud of our collective efforts to vaccinate more than
2.3 million Oregonians,” Brown said in a press release. “It is because of this
success that we can move Oregon forward, and into the next chapter of this
pandemic. We are ready.”
With restrictions lifting, masks will not be required in
most settings and there will be no capacity limits or physical distancing
required.
On the same day, the Oregon Department of Education
announced the Ready Schools, Safe Learners Resiliency Framework for the 2021-22
school year to help school districts prepare their staff and campuses for the
next academic year. Included in the Framework is that the state’s public
schools will return to full-time and in-person instruction next year.
“Working together, we can harness this opportunity to
rekindle joy and learning in the classrooms, auditoriums, and playgrounds
across Oregon,” said Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill in a
press release.
“Oregon schools are ready to once again be vibrant places
for learners, staff, and their families.”
Earlier in June, Clackamas County moved into the “lower
risk” category, with the county having vaccinated 65 percent of residents aged
16 and older and submitted a vaccine equity plan to the Oregon Health Authority
(OHA).
As of Friday, June 25, OHA reported 69.1 percent of Oregon’s
adults received vaccinations, with an additional 31,264 needed to hit 70
percent. One additional COVID-19 related death was reported on that day,
bringing the state’s death toll to 2,761, while 232 new confirmed cases were
reported, bringing the state’s total to 207,787.
The state’s eviction moratorium was expected to expire on
Wednesday, June 30, but a federal eviction moratorium is in place through the
end of July. Renters can be protected through July if they complete the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention Eviction Protection Declaration and provide
it to their landlord. More information is available at https://www.cdc.gov.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Live music returns to the Skyway in July posted on 07/01/2021
Tracie Anderson and Tom Baker took over the Skyway Bar and
Grill more than 20 years ago, and in that time the restaurant has offered more
than 2,500 nights of music.
Anderson noted that bands have come from everywhere on the
national and local scene and that while some have played at the Skyway since
the beginning, others just while traveling through.
Since last March, however, it has been a different tune with
no music, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.
But the stage is now set for a return to live performances at
the Skyway.
“I think we're all excited. Musicians are happy to be
playing music and we're happy to have music be a part of our restaurant/bar,”
she wrote in an email to The Mountain Times. “I think we all feel a sense of
relief. The past 15 months have separated us and now we get to gather again for
a common interest.”
Anderson noted that they plan on summer shows to be held
outdoors from 7-9 p.m. for one or two days per week. Updates will be available
through the Skyway’s Facebook page and website, as well as in the calendar
section of The Mountain Times.
The music runs the gamut, from bluegrass and rock ‘n’ roll
to jazz and folk.
Anderson sees music as a way to bring people together,
allowing them to focus on what they have in common rather than their differences.
“We've heard from so many customers, and employees that they
really miss live music and can't wait until we start booking shows,” she added.
“I think we miss dancing and partying together. Live music brings us all
together. People make friendships here and I think live music plays a big part
in that.”
The Skyway Bar and Grill is located at 71545 Hwy. 26 in
Zigzag. For more information, including an upcoming schedule of music, visit
skywaybarandgrill.com or find them on Facebook.
Upcoming concerts at Skyway
Saturday, July 3: Deja 2 +
(Mike Gilbert, John Slater, and Loren King).
Friday, July 9: Free Creatures (Folklore Hip Hop).
Saturday, July 10: Steelhead Stalkers (Latin Jazz).
Saturday, July 17: Pagan Jug Band (High Energy Bluegrass).
Saturday, July 24: TBA.
Friday, July 30: Billy D. & The Hoo Doos (Chicago
Blues).
Saturday, July 31: Coming Up Threes (Celtic Rock).
Saturday, Aug. 14: Countryside Ride (Country-Western
Honkytonk).
Friday, Aug. 27:Lewi Longmire & The Left Coast Roasters
(Roots Rock).
More dates to be added.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| A dramatic garage sale posted on 07/01/2021
When the Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company (NNB) began 16 years
ago, it started with some theater seats, lighting canisters and a light board.
Today, after offering hundreds of performances to thousands of theatergoers,
the attic is packed with a bevy of props, set pieces, costumes and more.
This month, NNB will help clear out the clutter with a sale
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, July 23 and Saturday, July 24, offering people a
chance to walk away with some fun, useful items while supporting the theater.
“It’s just the accumulation of all the years,” said Kelly
Lazenby, the theater’s artistic director and one of the founders. “There’ll be
some good stuff.”
Lazenby noted a few of the types of items that will be
available, including vintage clothes, sporting equipment, dishes, toolboxes,
lighting fixtures, bolts of fabric, lots of hats, uniforms and even fur coats.
And with all the costumes available, Lazenby added that it makes for a good
opportunity for anyone looking to get an early jump on a Halloween costume for
this fall or for a quilter to find a large range of fabrics and clothes.
“It’s going to be all very reasonable,” she said. “I don’t
think we have things that are too expensive.”
Proceeds from the sale will help the theater refinish the
floors and materials (such as wood to build sets) for future productions.
NNB will also hold auctions for the winter production of Ken
Ludwig’s “The Game’s Afoot” at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27 and 1 p.m. Saturday,
Aug. 28. The comedy features three men and five women in a play within a play
about a staged production of “Sherlock Homes.”
Rehearsals start in mid-October and performers need not
attend both audition days.
NNB is located at the Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in
Boring.
For more information, or to make reservations, call
503-593-1295 or visit nnbtheater.com.
Sandy Actors Theatre seeks volunteers
The Sandy Actors Theatre (SAT) hopes to build its volunteer
roster, seeking people for a few housekeeping duties before shows and serving
snacks and beverages during intermissions. Anyone interested can contact Steve
Morrow at 503-819-1860 or steve@sandyactorstheatre.org.
SAT will also open its 2021-22 season with a production of
“Dead to the Last Drop,” by Ken Jones, opening on Thursday, Sept. 23.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Photo by Garth Guibord.
With the Hoodland Farmers Market having entered its fourth
season on Sunday, May 23, Market Manager Lauren Carusona knows it has made an
impact from the response she’s getting from people.
“I keep getting a lot of, ‘Oh I can't wait to have farm
fresh dinners all summer,’” Carusona said, noting that people are becoming more
aware of the impact that food can have on their lives as well as the choices
they make with their money. “Building community and connection to food has
always been our goal. Now that it’s our fourth season, it feels like we’re
really stepping into that role.”
The market will offer fresh produce, meats, soaps and more
from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday through September in the parking lot at the
Whistle Stop, 66674 Hwy. 26 in Welches. The season will be the longest for the
market, which had a shortened one last year due to the pandemic and the
wildfires.
“It feels really exciting and the timing feels good with the
vaccination roll out and some of the restrictions being lifted,” Carusona said.
“We’re starting to feel a little sense of normalcy return.”
Carusona added that the market is building off of previous
years with a number of returning vendors. The vendors for the opening day
included: Chicken Coop Botanicals, offering natural health products handmade by
local herbalist; Twig Furniture, featuring locally-made one-of-a-kind furniture
made from branches; Hood Soaps selling handcrafted vegan and goats milk bar
soaps, whipped body butter, lotion bars, lip balms and laundry soap; Hood Hills
Farm, with farm fresh produce, canned and fermented foods; Roots Movement Farm,
offering farm fresh produce and mushrooms; Heart Song Arts Pottery, with
handmade pottery; Northwest Acid Test, selling hand printed and dyed clothing
inspired by Oregon; Sugar Maple Swine, a small family farm with humanely raised
pork products; Bristly Rose, offering
flowers and veggies; and an info booth, offering stickers, tote bags and can
koozies for sale.
The market’s first Sunday brought out some new people,
including Mountain residents Candice Kelly and Julie Cook. They noted they came
out to be more involved and support local businesses.
“Everything looks great,” Cook said. “The greens look really
good.”
“I just hope that more vendors come out and everybody can
support each other locally,” Kelly added.
Brightwood resident Matt Sorrell was also a first-time
participant at the market and noted he hopes to see more vegetables as the
season progresses.
“I’m into it, I'm excited,” he said. “We’re looking for
something like this up here so this is pretty perfect.”
Lavonne Heacock, who has been to the market in years past,
said the market and people gathering together gives her hope as they grow and
share organic foods.
“Farming is not an easy thing,” she said. “It’s good to see
people using the land again and risking being small farmers.”
The market has implemented procedures due to the pandemic,
including masks covering mouths and noses required by participants, keeping a
distance of six feet from others and one customer at a time at each booth. This
may change as the needs of the community change and safety guidelines are
lifted.
For more information, or if you would like to be added to
the market’s newsletter, visit the market’s Facebook page or email
hoodlandfarmersmarket@gmail.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Fire district budget prepared for 2021-22 posted on 06/01/2021
Hoodland Fire District (HFD) Fire Chief James Price
presented a draft budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year to the district’s budget
committee during a May 18 Zoom meeting. The draft budget was approved for
adoption by the committee without a need for a second scheduled meeting.
“This year’s budget saw no significant changes in the things
that cost the most, such as personnel,” Chief Price said. “We’re returning the
training budget to where it was in 2018, providing funds for FIREWISE
preparation in the community, and are able to put some funds in reserves.”
For the July to June budget year of 2021-22, HFD will have a
permanent tax rate of $2.6385 per $1,000.00 of assessed value and $0.25 per
$1,000.00 of assessed value for the local option tax levy.
The draft budget is an increase of $888,573 from the 2020-21
budget. New expenses are dependent on potential grant awards of $637,778, as
well as an anticipated increase of three percent in property tax revenue.
The 2021-22 budget funds several projects including FEMA
grant funds for two new firefighters through the SAFER Act, grant funds and
matching district funds for protective gear, replacement of living quarters and
a generator at the Welches station, FIREWISE community efforts and an increase
in the general funds unappropriated and Disaster/Contingency funds.
HFD came under scrutiny in 2020 after a Special Districts
Association of Oregon (SDAO) organizational assessment detailed “significant
financial and operational challenges unique to your community and district,”
including a lack of required financial audits for the past three years.
The SDAO report stated that the district could require
further financial support in the form of a general obligation bond in the
future to cover the cost of new fire apparatus and building improvements.
Chief Price credited Interim Fire Chief Steve Abel for
completing audits for the three years during his tenure in 2020 and stated the
district is working to resolve the issues presented by the SDAO regarding the
district’s finances and personnel management.
“The district is trending in the right direction,” Chief Price
said. “We were able to put some funds in reserves. We have to climb out of some
difficulty; it’s an ongoing process.”
The proposed budget will be published for public review by
June 9. A final vote on the budget will take place at the Tuesday, June 22 board
of directors meeting. The HFD board of directors cannot vary appropriations by
more than 10 percent in any fund without returning the budget to the committee
for approval.
More information, including a draft of the proposed budget,
is available online at https://www.hoodlandfire.us/2021-2022-hfd-draft-budget.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| PGE plans to add poles on some Mountain properties posted on 06/01/2021
Portland General Electric (PGE) began marking properties for
potentially adding poles to properties last month, the start of an effort to
remove service drops that are attached to trees. Andrea Platt of PGE Strategic
Communications noted the project is in the design work phase and PGE will
engage with property owners for potential design solutions in the coming
months.
“We’ve got a number of ways that we’ll plan to reach out to
customers so they have a sense of what we’re doing and what the options might
look like,” Platt said. “If customers don’t agree with the location for a
future potential pole, we want to have dialogue.”
Properties were marked with stakes with pink ribbons where a
new potential pole could be placed.
Platt noted that PGE is constantly assessing equipment to be
in line with current laws, noting that the lines that were attached to trees
were done many years ago.
“Times have changed and regulations have as well,” she said,
adding that these relocations are part of a broader effort to protect areas
around wires and equipment.
Mountain resident Mike Gudge has concerns about the change,
including that the new pole will be “unsightly.”
“The way they route them, routing away from trees as much in
the open and clear as they can,” Gudge said. “Now they’re hidden among the
trees and the branches.”
Gudge added that he hopes other options will be considered,
including perhaps electrical standoffs that could insulate a line from the tree
it is attached to.
Homeowners with questions about potential poles can contact
PGE at 503-228-6322.
Stakes put on properties have a job number on it and
homeowners can use that as a reference.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| McKnight returns to school board with write-in win posted on 06/01/2021
Of the 422 write-in votes cast for the Zone 3 (Welches)
position on the Oregon Trail School District’s (OTSD) board of directors, some
notable vote getters included one for cartoon character Elmer Fudd, five for
different spelling variations of Donald Trump, one for former children’s
television host Fred Rogers (who died in 2003), one for fictional television
character James T. Kirk and two for legendary singer Johnny Cash (who also died
in 2003).
But in a twist of fate, voters selected current board member
Kurt McKnight, who decided against running for reelection due to an upcoming
move, with a total of 47 votes, defeating two other write-in candidates:
Melanie Brown, who received 32 votes, and Mike Wiley, with 18 votes (all vote
totals provided by Clackamas County Elections as of Tuesday, May 25).
“I was really surprised to see that many write-ins for my
name,” McKnight said. “I was also very touched by it.”
McKnight added that this changes his thought process on the
situation, he sees that the voters have asked him to remain on the board.
“I’ve thought a lot about it, and I’m probably going to
accept,” he said, adding that when he is ready to move and will not be able to
serve the school district, he will resign and allow the board to appoint
someone to fulfil the remainder of the four-year term. “I love what I do, I
love what we’ve done (on the school board). There’s a lot more to do and I’d be
honored to do another year or two.”
The May 18 Special District Election also saw the approval
of Measure 3-566, a five-year county sheriff Public Safety Local Option Levy, a
levy that first passed in 2006 and then renewed by voters in 2011 and 2016
without any changes. This time, the levy’s rate increased by 12 cents to 36.8
cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, which will maintain funding for 84
jail beds in the county jail, 30 jail deputies, 18 patrol deputies and the
Sheriff’s specialized drug enforcement team, while also adding 16 patrol
deputies, six jail deputies, two internal affairs investigators, implement and
maintain a body-worn camera program and five detectives to investigate elder
abuse/neglect, child abuse/neglect, human trafficking and felony crimes.
The levy, which will last from 2022-27, received 43,756
“Yes” votes (56.16 percent) against 34,153 “No” votes (43.84 percent).
“The passage of Measure 3-566, confirms our community values
excellent public safety services and expects Clackamas County to continue to be
a safe place to live,” work and raise a
family," said Sheriff Angela Brandenburg in a statement. “I look forward
to the opportunity to further the good work that the men and women of the
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office do each and every day.”
Other results on the ballot include three reelected members
of the OTSD board: Marjan Salveter in Zone 1 (North Sandy), Robert Lee in Zone
5 (Cottrell/Bull Run) and Randy Carmony in Zone 7 (At Large); and three elected
to the Hoodland Fire District’s board of directors: Mary Ellen Fitzgerald
(Position 3), Nora Gambee (Position 4) and Cliff Fortune (Position 5). All six
ran unopposed.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Noah's Quest offers support to those who have lost a child posted on 06/01/2021
Saturday, June 26 will mark the 16th annual Noah’s Quest, a
walk/run event for everyone who has lost a child or the hope of a child, and
for those who care. The event is a personal one for its organizer, Carol Cohen,
who lost her son Noah as a stillborn in 2005.
“Every year it's hard for me, I get very emotional,” Cohen
said. “I always have a hard time talking.”
But Cohen, who now has two daughters, also noted that the
event serves as a reunion of sorts, bringing together people who have shared
the experience of losing a child, while also welcoming those whose loss is more
recent and are looking for support.
“I feel good to continue doing this every year because I
know it helps people,” Cohen said. “We meet new people and then there’s a bond.
“When people come up to me and just thank me for an event
like this, it’s overwhelming,” she added. “It's unfortunate that we have to do
an event like this. It’s hard to see new people.”
The event will offer a five- or ten-kilometer walk and run,
along with a one-kilometer kid’s run at Sandy Bluff Park, 36910 Goldenrain St.
Packet pick up will happen at 8 a.m. and an opening ceremony will be held at
8:45 a.m.
Participants are highly encouraged to pre-register by
Thursday, June 24 at 503-668-5569 or online at www.cityofsandy.com. Early
registration is $30 ($5 for the kid’s run), while registration on race day is
$40. Kids ages 6 and under can run free, unless they run in the kid’s run.
The event will also feature a raffle and guest speaker Pat
Schweibert, a registered nurse who has co-founded a number of support groups
(including Brief Encounters) and written several books, at 11 a.m.
Participants can also request to have their baby’s name on a
sign in the racecourse. The deadline for a submission is 2 p.m. Thursday, June
24.
The event, which was held virtually last year, will adhere
to COVID safety guidelines, which may include masks during part or all of the
walk/run. It will take place rain or shine, but it may be canceled in extreme
weather. In the event of cancellation, entry fees will be used as a donation to
Brief Encounters support group.
For more information, or if you are interested in
volunteering, please visit www.cityofsandy.com or call 503-668-5569.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| New book tackles the un-boring community of Boring posted on 06/01/2021
The community of Boring has experienced a surprising array
of unexpected and unusual events during its 118-year history.
The small Oregon town, with a name that leads to easy jokes
about its sleepy nature, has been the home to a rich array of eccentric
characters and events over the years. From the time the future heavyweight
boxing champion of the world was hired to fight the town bully, to a massive
fire blamed on fireworks that left half the town in ashes, the history of
Boring has been anything but, and was populated with moonshiners, runaway
trains, wild west gangs and a wild man who lived in the woods among other
notable characters.
Boring resident and unofficial town historian Bruce Haney
has gathered these unorthodox stories in his new book “Eccentric Tales of
Boring, Oregon.” Haney gives a monthly speech about the history of Boring for
the Boring Community Planning Organization and runs a popular history group
called Boring Oregon History.
“I started looking in the newspaper archives for the most
un-boring Boring stories I could find. After a couple years I realized that I
had all these great stories that only myself and the people that attended these
meetings knew about,” Haney wrote in an email. “That is when I decided to take
the best ones and deep dive into researching them and make a book out of them.”
The tales Haney researched and collected for his book
largely take place in the early years of the 20th century before the second
world war. Haney touches on secret societies such as the Odd Fellows and
Rebekah’s influence on the social life of the community, the proliferation of
bootlegging operations during prohibition and the logging industry’s physical
toll on workers in the region, plus a one-armed band on the vaudeville circuit
comprised of maimed mill workers and further accounts of death and
disfigurement of the town’s mill workers.
“I hope that readers get a better understanding of early
20th century America,” Haney noted. “I hope that when someone jokes ‘How boring
is Boring,’ they will be able to tell the person how truly un-boring Boring is
and has always been.”
Haney sheds light on an incident of historic prejudice that
resulted in murder with the grim recounting of an assault on a trio of East
Indian millworkers. A band of white millworkers began firing on the cabin
occupied by the East Indian workers in an effort to intimidate them until one
of the assailants began firing into the cabin and struck and killed Harnam
Singh, a recent immigrant whom little is known about. One newspaper stated he
was only in the country for two weeks at the time of his murder.
As a whole, the collection encapsulates a cross section of
the driving influences and impulses of a community and the region during the
first half of the twentieth century.
The book is Haney’s first foray as an author. Haney stated
he is currently researching and planning his next book.
“I love researching and building stories using history. I
have a few different possibilities for the next book ... I’m enjoying the
feeling of being published for the first time,” Haney wrote.
The process of researching the book on Boring led Haney to
develop a deeper connection with the town and its residents.
“When I was wondering how old that bar or that two-story
brick building was, I never thought that it would lead to me finding and being
welcomed into such a wonderful community,” Haney wrote in the preface to his
book. “I grew up in the big city nearby, Portland, but I never felt part of a
community there. In Boring, I do.”
“Eccentric Tales of Boring Oregon” in published by Arcadia
Publishing and the History Press.
More information is available online at www.arcadiapublishing.com
and www.historypress.net.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Al Forno's new owners prep for summer posted on 06/01/2021
As one of the new owners of Al Forno Mount Hood Pizzeria in
Rhododendron, Robin Klein credits her predecessor, Stephen Ferruzza, for
building a successful restaurant. Klein noted the excellent food, nice decor
and the pizza’s reputation among a solid following of locals and visitors
alike.
“We’re really really grateful that we have the opportunity
to acquire this business,” Klein said. “I love it.”
Klein, who has worked at the restaurant for the past few
years, noted that the new ownership is not going to change much, keeping the
same menu and recipes, but she does plan on a few smaller tweaks. The menu will
expand with a pear pizza and will also offer most dishes as prepared or with
vegan ingredients.
“We’re able to maintain the authenticity,” Klein said.
“We’re not really trying to change too much.”
She also added that the restaurant has an expanded back
patio and will be adding a new pizza oven this month, which will help keep
hungry customers happy.
Klein and her partner Robis Marks took over at the end of
last summer, and despite entering the business during the pandemic, Klein
reported that things went fairly well. Their fortitude was tested with the
September wildfires and the harsh winter weather, which included the wind storm
that wrecked their tent covering the patio.
Klein added that in the future they hope to add some music
and other entertainment, building on the feeling of community in Rhododendron.
“We’re excited about the summer,” she said. “I think the
community right there in Rhody is going to be special.”
Al Forno Ferruzza is located at 73285 E. Hwy. 26 in
Rhododendron. Hours of operation are from 4-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and
noon to 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit
mapleaqua.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Photo courtesy of James Wilson
Last spring, the U.S. Forest Service closed off the Mount
Hood National Forest (MHNF) in response to the coronavirus pandemic. When the
forest reopened in May 2020, it saw “unprecedented use” throughout last summer,
according to Ben Watts, West Zone Recreation Program Manager for the Zigzag and
Clackamas River Ranger Districts.
And Watts expects more of the same this summer.
“I think that people again are going to turn to the outdoors
as an outlet,” he said. “We are anticipating similar levels of recreation and
use this season as compared to last.”
Similar to last summer, Watts noted that travel
restrictions, limited event offerings and people’s wariness to being exposed to
the coronavirus at certain places will contribute to large numbers of visitors
in the MHNF. But making the situation more complex, he added, are areas in the
forest that are closed due to the wildfires from last fall, which he estimated
at more than 200,000 acres.
That might lead to more people concentrated in a smaller
area of forest this year, perhaps similar to what happened with the closure of
some recreation sites in the Columbia River Gorge after the 2017 Eagle Creek
Fire. Thankfully, some of those sites have recently reopened, which may offer
another outlet for outdoor recreationists.
“That’ll help some,” Watts said.
Watts added that the MHNF will try to add extra law
enforcement directed toward the fire closure areas, while also looking to add a
digital pass option for some recreation fee sites and even fee machines at
places such as the Ramona Falls Trailhead. The digital pass, which could be in
place sometime in June, would allow visitors to pay for a Northwest Forest
Pass, needed at many sites to park, through a QR code on their phones.
Watts also noted that access may be limited to Trillium
Lake, with people turned away when all the parking spots have been filled. Last
summer, some visitors parked illegally at the trailhead, which could have
hindered first responders in the case of an accident.
“Emergency access would be really problematic,” Watts said,
adding that something similar may be needed at Timothy Lake.
Another complicating factor for this summer will be from the
high number of fallen trees due to the heavy winds over the fall and winter.
Watts noted that there are problems on many trails in the MHNF, including a
number that have not had any work done to clear and repair them.
“This isn’t a state or municipal park, this is a
wilderness,” Watts said. “These places sometimes don’t get annual maintenance.”
That was echoed by James Wilson, a hiker who writes about
his experiences on his blog www.elevationchanges.com, and who hiked some around
Bald Mountain and the Muddy Fork Loop/ Ramona Falls after last September’s fire
and wind event. In an email to The Mountain Times, Wilson noted that while he
is a highly capable hiker, sections of the trail “strained my ability and
perception of what is a fun day in the woods.”
“This is going to be a while fixing,” Wilson wrote. “It is
not just clearing downed trees off the trail, it is trying to re-negotiate a
way through an old-growth forest that toppled onto itself in every different
direction and ripped much of the tread off the hillside. Some of these trees
are huge.”
Wilson, who hopes to get out this summer and work on a
project that will offer a more thorough map of water sources, camp sites and
the snowpack retreat on the Timberline Trail, added that visitors could
encounter a “sunk cost” type of danger when trying to maneuver through toppled
trees and facing pressure to push on and not lose the time already invested in
a hike.
“This is when things can go wrong very easily,” he noted.
Watts also called for visitors to be prepared for varying
trail conditions and other hazards, including ensuring camp sites are safe. He
also noted that when visiting the forest this summer, it will be good to have
optional plans if your first choice location is already full.
Watts added that the MHNF is expected to put time and effort
into the areas impacted by last year’s wildfires, which destroyed picnic
tables, fire rings, toilets and more. Meanwhile, concessionaires, outfitters,
guides, volunteer organizations and other partners will have to adhere to the
state’s COVID-19 guidelines, while there will also be signs posted reminding
visitors to maintain social distancing and wear masks.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Sandy peace vigil to end with final event on Friday, May 28 posted on 05/01/2021
After 15 years of weekly community gatherings to promote
peaceful solutions to conflict, the organizers of the Sandy Peace Vigil have
announced that the group will hold its final physical vigil. The vigil will be
held from 4-5 p.m. May 28 at the intersection of Hwy. 26 and SE 362 Drive in
Sandy.
The group held its first vigil on Feb. 2, 2007. The group
initially gathered as a public response to the Bush administration’s military
action in Afghanistan and Iraq said group organizer Mary Andersen.
“The vigils are a gesture to remind people of the conflicts
our country is involved in. We want peaceful resolutions and for people to
think about nonviolent options,” said Andersen, a resident of the Alder Creek
community since 1984.
Participants display signs calling for an end to the
conflicts and to raise awareness in the community.
“Probably our most iconic sign is ‘Honk for Peace,’” vigil
participant Bruce Ryan said.
Ryan, a Brightwood resident, is a retired teacher and
veteran of the United States Navy who served in Vietnam. Since his time in the
military, he has been an active advocate for peace and a participant in the
Sandy vigils since their inception.
“I think legislative action is more telling then street
protests, but what you hope for with street protests is passersby say, ‘What
the [heck] is going on,’ and ask about the issues,” Ryan said.
Andersen stated the group “isn’t political” and that people
“turn out with a variety of political views who just want peace.”
Over the years the group has had a number of military
veterans involved as active participants.
The vigil was originally held every Friday from 4-5 p.m.
After several years, the group began holding the vigil every first Friday of
the month.
In January 2008 the group held a 24-hour vigil attended by
up to 30 people to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the gathering.
“We’ve been out rain or shine, sometimes it’s been really
dicey with snowing and ice, but we thought it was important to be consistent,”
Andersen said.
The group stopped the vigils in March of 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. Andersen encouraged continued community involvement during
the pandemic with a virtual vigil in the form of an email newsletter with
stories promoting peace and links to petitions. She intends to continue with
the community engagement and invites citizens to join the community online by
emailing sandypeacevigil@gmail.com.
“We think it remains useful to remind people there are still
troops fighting and dying. There is plenty of conflict in the world and we feel
it is important to continue to work towards nonviolent solutions,” Andersen
said.
The final peace vigil is open to the public and will be held
rain or shine.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| No candidate for Welches school board position posted on 05/01/2021
On a ballot with just one true race for the Mountain
community, voters will also encounter no candidate for the Zone 3 (Welches)
position on the Oregon Trail School District’s (OTSD) board of directors in the
May 18 special district election. Longtime board member Kurt McKnight will not
run for reelection, a decision he noted he made the last time he ran.
“I am ... to become a full time resident of Hawaii in the
next two or three years,” McKnight said, adding that this is part of his
long-term retirement plan. “With that I couldn’t honestly run for another term.
(It’s) time for somebody else to represent the mountain area on the school
board.”
McKnight added that he is “very happy” with what the board
has accomplished during his tenure, including improvement in student
achievement, career and technical educational offerings, the new Sandy High
School building and upgrades at the other schools.
“I really can’t say enough how excited I am where our
leadership has taken our district,” he said. “The board has played a part in
that, but the heavy lifting has been through our administration, our union, our
employees. That’s really made the difference. I’m very excited to see the
opportunities ahead that we have, where we’ve come from and where we are
today.”
McKnight added that he was surprised nobody filed to be a
candidate for the position.
“There’s a lot of good people out there,” he said.
“Hopefully their goals, vision and heart will align with the great direction
the district is headed.”
McKnight also encouraged anyone who is interested to fully
understand the responsibilities of the position, noting that it is important to
work together on the board and not as an individual. He had served on the
district’s budget committee and others in addition to being a board member and
stressed that he never stopped learning about the district, education and
students.
“When I first got on the school board thought I knew all the
answers,” McKnight said. “And I was absolutely wrong.”
He added that one of the challenges for the next board will
be the unknown effects of the pandemic and the 2020-21 school year.
“We’ve done the best we can and teachers have done the best
they can, but the kids have really suffered emotionally and educationally,”
McKnight said. “The collateral effects of this we may now know for a few
years.”
Julia Monteith, Communications Director for the OTSD, noted
that if there are several write-in candidates that receive votes for the Zone 3
(Welches) position, the person with the most votes would win. Clackamas County
Elections would then send a form for the winner to either accept or decline the
position. If the position is not filled, the board could appoint someone.
All OTSD voters vote on each board position, but board
members must live in the zone they represent.
Marjan Salveter will run unopposed for reelection to the
Zone 1 (North Sandy) position on the OTSD board of directors, while Robert Lee
will run unopposed for reelection to the Zone 5 (Cottrell/Bull Run) position
and Randy Carmony will run unopposed for reelection to the Zone 7 (At Large)
position. All terms, including the Zone 3 (Welches) position, are for four
years.
Elsewhere on the ballot, the Hoodland Fire District’s board
of directors will see two members run for reelection unopposed, Mary Ellen
Fitzgerald for Position 3 and Cliff Fortune for Position 5, while Nora Gambee
will run unopposed for Position 4, currently held by Darcy Lais.
There are no more than one candidate for positions on
Mountain water districts or the Government Camp Road board.
The only race with more than one candidate will feature John
W. Bay and Dan Mancuso running for Position 2 on the Government Camp Sanitary
board. That board will also have Cornelia Gunderson running unopposed for
Position 4.
All official drop sites in Clackamas County are available to
the public 24 hours a day starting Wednesday, April 28 through 8 p.m. on
Tuesday, May 18. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18.
Postage is no longer required to mail a ballot, but a
postmark on a ballot will not count for the deadline.
Ballots will be delivered between Thursday, April 29 and
Monday, May 3. If a ballot has not been received by Wednesday, May 5, please
contact Clackamas County Elections at 503-655-8510 or
www.clackamas.us/elections.
Ballot drop sites include:
Hoodland Public Library
24525 E Welches Rd
Welches, OR 97067
For a full list of locations, visit the elections website.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| RWA comes to agreement to protect water source posted on 05/01/2021
In an email dated Monday, April 26 to the board of directors
of the Rhododendron Water Association (RWA), board president Steve Graeper
announced an agreement had been reached with Chilton Lumber to preserve a
buffer zone on both sides of Henry Creek on property the lumber company
acquired earlier this year. The zone includes a 150-foot “no touch” buffer on
the south side of the creek in the 150-acre parcel and a complete no harvest
area on the north side of the creek in the parcel.
The agreement, which cost the RWA $175,000 and was pending
signatures at press time, will be written into the deed for the parcel and last
in perpetuity.
“I’m much more positive than I was two weeks ago,” Graeper
told The Mountain Times, noting that the lumber company had taken a harder line
early in the process. He added that the result was a, “Fairly reasonable final
outcome,” and credited state officials and environmental groups to helping
bring Chilton Lumber to the negotiating table.
In an email dated April 10, Graeper outlined the situation
to the board, noting that Chilton Lumber intended to clear-cut the property and
with current guidelines and Henry Creek’s designation as a small type “F”
stream, the “No Cut Zone” could be as narrow as ten feet.
That buffer would impact the turbidity (the amount of
suspended solids) in the stream, possibly leading to periodic boil water
notices or worse.
“If the private property is clear-cut, the turbidity levels
in Henry Creek will increase to a point we will not be able to filter out the
impurities or Henry Creek could go underground and Rhododendron could possibly
lose its sole source of clean safe drinking water to over 1,000 residents,”
Graeper explained in the earlier email, citing a similar situation with the
Corbett Water District, which lost the South Fork of Gordon Creek as a water
source due to similar circumstances. “Unlike Corbett, which has the North Fork of
Gordon Creek as an alternate water source, Rhododendron has no alternate
source.”
Graeper added that logging on the property could begin as
early as May 1, noting how the price of timber is at an all-time high plus the
need for harvesting the lumber to take place before fire danger in the area
reaches a critical point that precludes logging.
The land is one of two privately held parcels, totaling 230
acres, in the RWA watershed, while the majority of the watershed is in the Mount
Hood National Forest.
Graeper told The Mountain Times that the RWA has 365 members
and serves approximately 1,000 people. He noted that when he first became
president, he made a promise to never have a special assessment added to the
bill.
“I’m not going to do that to our members,” he said, noting
that he is exploring a number of avenues to find funding for the agreement.
“I’m just trying to continue to maintain the clean, fresh, state-award winning
best tasting water to our members.”
He added that the RWA is one of 58 water systems in the
Mountain community, stretching from Government Camp to Alder Creek, and just
three of them, including the RWA, are surface water systems.
All others are groundwater systems, which are not impacted
by logging practices.
“We are unique upon the mountain in the fact that our
watershed is so vulnerable,” Graeper said.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Hoodland Fire and Clackamas County team up for vaccine clinic posted on 05/01/2021
The Hoodland Fire District (HFD) will hold a COVID-19
vaccination clinic with Clackamas County in late spring to provide access to
the vaccine for community members in the region. The clinic is tentatively
scheduled for Wednesday, May 12 with the goal of having 500 vaccinations to
distribute at the main station, located at 69634 Hwy. 26 in Welches.
“(The district) realized that there is an unmet need in the
community for a local option for Covid-19 vaccinations. Partnering with
Clackamas County gives us the capabilities to meet this need and help our
community get vaccinated,” HFD District Fire Chief James Price said.
The county has partnered with fire districts throughout the
county to distribute the vaccine.
“Clackamas County is committed to bringing a clinic to the
mountain communities,” Clackamas County Public Information Officer Kimberly
Dinwiddie said. “For the clinics we work with community groups to provide
access for people typically underserved at other events. We realize that in the
rural and mountainous areas of the county, going to the convention center or
airport in Portland doesn’t always work for our residents.”
Dinwiddie added the clinic was in the early planning stages
and the date was still very flexible.
“It all comes down to vaccine supply,” she said.
Supply chain issues on the federal and state level have
impacted the distribution of doses allocated for the county. Dinwiddie added
that the county will not know until two weeks before the clinic if the
anticipated 500 doses are available on that date or if the clinic will have to
be rescheduled later in the spring.
Price noted that HFD discussed working with the Oregon Trail
School District and the Mt. Hood Lions Club to coordinate the event, as well as
the Hoodland Senior Center to help provide access to the vaccine for community
members who need additional assistance with sign up or transportation.
The clinic will be held by appointment, available through
the county website at www.clackamas.us/coronavirus/vaccine or by phone at
503-655-8224. Dinwiddie noted that the county will work with community groups
to provide access to underrepresented groups before opening the reservations up
to county residents online.
Dinwiddie added that reservations for other clinics have
filled within the afternoon of being made available online.
“We’re asking for people’s patience with the process,” she
said.
Other clinics will be available throughout the county as
more vaccine supply becomes available.
“We’d love to be in the position to have ongoing clinics
throughout the county,” Dinwiddie said.
HFD will post information and updates about the clinic on
the district’s website at https://www.hoodlandfire.us and on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/Hoodlandfire. Information about the status of the
clinic will also be available through the county’s website at
www.clackamas.us/coronavirus/vaccine.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| The return of Sandy Actors Theatre posted on 05/01/2021
As if closing down to the coronavirus pandemic wasn’t bad
enough, the Sandy Actors Theatre (SAT) lost its sign after it took a beating
during the high wind event from last year.
Now, that sign is repaired and back in its proper place by
Ace Hardware and the theater also has its first performance in more than a year
with “Relationships at Play,” a collection of monologues and two person scenes
that can be watched online.
“It’s just a way for us to say we’re still around,”
explained Joni Tabler, a SAT board member who helped spearhead the virtual
show.
Tabler, who also acts and directs at SAT, noted that all the
scenes for the online show have to do with relationships, such as family and
friends, and feature a number of familiar actors who have performed with SAT in
the past.
There is also footage of readings and viewing the show is
free, with viewers encouraged to offer a donation instead.
A link to the show is available at the theater’s website,
https://sandyactorstheatre.org.
Meanwhile, Tabler added that the theater is preparing for a
2021-22 season with live performances, hopefully opening by the end of
September and likely featuring four plays (instead of the usual five). She
noted that the first priority, however, is ensuring that the audience is safe.
“We’re not going to do anything that’s going to put anybody
in a bad situation,” Tabler said. “That’s why we’ve taken our time to come
back.”
Tabler couldn’t divulge specific plays the theater has
selected since the order of shows is unknown, but noted they have small casts
and are all comedies.
“We need something that’s a lot lighter for how it is right
now,” she said.
Tabler added that the closure of the theater due to the
pandemic has been a challenge, but they got help from a grant to pay rent and
bills. She also reflected on how the silver lining was that those involved with
the theater were able to make some improvements to the theater while also
cleaning things.
Meanwhile, Tabler also noted that SAT patrons have reached
out to express their support and to inquire what the status of the theater was,
especially when the sign was missing.
“They were all saying, ‘We wish you were back,’” Tabler
said. “People are anxious for us to open our doors again.”
For more information call 503-668-6834 or visit
sandyactorstheatre.org.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| 10 Years Ago: Students offer international support posted on 05/01/2021
Welches students in the giving mood
Welches students demonstrated selfless behavior by
spearheading a project named “The Big Give” to help those in need. Many generous
tasks were undertaken during the month long event, including collecting socks
for Japan following a devastating earthquake and tsunami, and collecting
pennies to donate to a children's hospital.
As part of the sock collecting project, the students reached
out to local businesses to offer raffle incentives and found many willing
partners. Then Welches Principal Alex Leaver commended all the students for
their work, noting that the socks and pennies projects were initiated by the
students.
"It's them responding in a compassionate and empathetic
way, which is one of the things we want from our students," Leaver said.
"It's part of being in a healthy community." Way to go, Welches
students.
In other news at Welches Schools Denise Emmerling-Baker won
an Excellence in Education Award. Emmerling-Baker started teaching at a private
school in 1998 and shortly after joined the Oregon Trail School District, going
on to teach Welches Elementary and Middle School students in the English
Language Department.
Online tool to combat invasive species
The war against invasive species was ramped up a notch when
The Oregon Invasive Species Council launched iMapInvasives, an online GIS-based
reporting and querying tool which accurately records and tracks the whereabouts
of invasive plants, animals, fish and diseases. IMap was developed through a
partnership between the Nature Conservancy, Nature-Serve, The NY Natural
Heritage Program, Florida National Areas Inventory and Oregon Biodiversity
Information Center.
More than 85,000 observations of invasive species were
included at the start and the list continues to grow. Invasive species cause
problems in the forests, meadows, streams and rivers to native plants and
animals.
To learn more about invasive species, visit the Oregon Invasive
Species website at www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org, or call 1-866-INVADER
if you spot a pesky invader. To access iMapInvasives, visit
www.imapinvasives.org, click on OR.
In Other News...
The search for a new superintendent for the Oregon Trails
School District moved along after receiving 26 applications,
The Villages at Mt Hood held a Community Survey, Mike
Aldridge and Alexandra Loren won the first ever King-Queen competition at Mt.
Hood Skibowl, Rhododendron resident Leslie Stockdale introduced her new book,
"Clover, the Plover, and Muffin, the Puffin, and the Oil Spill.”
Several Sandy High School students won awards at the Oregon
Thespians State Acting Competition: Garrett Larreau and Joshua Grozav won two
awards in solo acting, Larreau and Bryn McLaughlin earned a Showcase Award in
duo dramatic acting, Chris Shiprack a finalist award for Solo Acting, and Jesta
Knoles and Danny Wesselink a finalist award in Duo Comic Acting. Bravo!
By Frances Berteau/MT |
|  Graphic by Wes Thelen.
On Monday, March 1, a 45-minute-long swarm of earthquakes
occurred to the southwest of Mount Hood’s summit at a depth of approximately
one to two kilometers below sea level. This was after more than 100 individual
earthquakes hit the south side of the mountain’s summit on Sunday, Jan. 17,
with a maximum magnitude of 2.7 on the Richter scale and at a similar depth.
Residents around Mount Hood need not fear an imminent
eruption, as these swarms are characteristic of earthquakes related to regional
stresses and not associated with movement in magma. Scientists are watching,
though.
“Anything that happens near the summit of any volcano is
going to get our attention,” said Wes Thelen, Research Seismologist with the
Cascade Volcano Observatory (CVO), adding that they did not see any other
activity that would indicate a lead up to some “broader unrest.”
And thanks to three volcano monitoring stations installed on
Mount Hood in September 2020, swarms such as these can help our understanding
of its volcanic secrets and the seismic activity in the area. The sites each
include seismic and GPS instruments, and scientists now have an opportunity to
better understand the factors involved with Mount Hood’s volcanic activity.
Thelen, who has worked at CVO since 2016, assesses seismic
data on a daily basis for volcanoes from Mount Baker to Crater Lake to
determine their volcanic hazard. He noted the location of the three new
equipment sites are far from ski resorts and other developments where previous
equipment exists, such as at the top of the Palmer Lift at Timberline and a
waste processing plant at Mount Hood Meadows, eliminating much of the noise
that occurs at times.
“These sites are in areas that are very very quiet,” he
said. “These are very good observations of the same events.”
That could help scientists determine what orientation the
fault plane is in or how an earthquake slips, thanks to the next level of
details.
Thelen also noted the GPS sensors offer data that was not
previously available, which could help reveal any deformation in the land (such
as inflation or deflation) associated with an earthquake. That type of
deformation would be expected if a volcano was building toward significant
unrest or an eruption.
Thelen added that while the recent earthquake swarms may not
have been missed if the stations were not in place, he likened the added
equipment to having more witnesses at a crime scene, giving observations a
higher degree of reliability.
“What’s different about these stations is that we’re seeing
these things much better now,” Thelen said. “We’re getting now at least three
stations, quite close, up on the volcano.”
Swarms such as these are not common, but have happened in
the past, including in November 2013, September and October 2014 and May
2016. The swarm to the south (in
January), Thelen noted, is fairly typical on Mount Hood, typically occurring
once a year, while he added that there is a regional stress present in the
crust around the mountain and even if Mount Hood wasn’t there, he’d expect
similar earthquakes to occur.
In time, enough earthquakes will be recorded offering a new
data set that can reveal some of the hidden secrets of Mount Hood, perhaps
including the size of the magma chamber and how deep the chamber is, thanks to
being able to track the path of the seismic waves.
“When we start to get a picture like that, we can build some
conceptual models … of what might link these swarms together,” he said, adding
that the new data will also offer a better assessment of what hazards might be
associated with the activity.
And the new stations should add momentum to interest in
Mount Hood’s volcanic activity, spurring studies to look deeper into the
mountain than we have seen before.
“We don’t know a lot about what’s happening inside the
volcano,” Thelen said.
Mount Hood is a challenging volcano to study, he added, in
part because there is no record of its eruptive cycle. Most volcanic
earthquakes will occur under the summit and remain so small that people are
unlikely to feel them.
“It really dissipates energy quickly,” Thelen said, adding
that an earthquake approaching a magnitude of 3 at the summit of Mount Hood
would get their attention.
And our understanding of Mount Hood will grow more later
this year, as scientists received permits from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
to add instruments and monitoring equipment around Government Camp for
long-term study of thermal water features and infrasound instruments at Mt.
Hood Meadows.
Thelen also noted that their work would not be possible
without the efforts from different partners on Mount Hood, including the USFS,
Timberline and Mt. Hood Meadows.
“We’re really appreciative of the different partners we have
in the area to keep these stations going,” he said.
Data from the remote monitoring stations transmit in
real-time data to the CVO and its monitoring partner, the Pacific Northwest
Seismic Network. To view data from these new stations on the CVO webpage,
https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mount-hood/monitoring.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Sandy and SOLVE partner for Earth Day cleanup posted on 04/01/2021
The city of Sandy will team up with the environmental
nonprofit organization SOLVE for “SOLVE IT in Sandy,” an annual spring litter
clean up from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 17. The event coincides with
state-wide clean up events hosted by SOLVE for Earth Day. Volunteers spread out
in Sandy and pick up litter and debris to beautify the city.
“We see a lot of resident participation, including organized
groups. It’s a good way to give back to the community,” said Carol Cohen, Event
Coordinator for the City of Sandy.
Volunteers of all ages are invited to meet at the Sandy
Community Center parking lot at 38348 Pioneer Blvd. in Sandy.
The cleanup will focus on eight to ten different sites
including the Sandy River Trailhead, Tickle Creek, Main Street, the Sandy
community park and the cemetery.
“With the recent ice storm there was a lot of damage,” Cohen
said. “There’s a lot of clean up that needs to be done.”
SOLVE (formerly SOLV) was founded in 1969 as part of a
community effort to address litter in the state.
Over the years the nonprofit has expanded its mandate to
address a wider scope of community and environmental issues.
For 2021, SOLVE is combining the organization’s annual
Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup and SOLVE IT for Earth Day events. The Spring
Oregon Beach Cleanup was first held in 1986 and SOLVE IT community clean up
events began in 1990 as part of Earth Day. The community of Sandy has
participated in hosting a SOLVE IT Earth Day event for the past ten years.
SOLVE provides volunteers for the event with bags, grabbers,
vinyl gloves, safety vests and sharps containers. Hoodview Disposal and
Recycling donates a 20-yard dumpster for the litter gathered by volunteers.
Participants are encouraged to arrive with a face covering,
warm clothing, closed-toed shoes, work gloves and a supply of water.
Preregistration for the event in required online at
https://www.solveoregon.org/opportunity/a0C1I00000QFKbUUAX.
On the day of the event volunteers can drive through to
check in and pick up supplies while signing up for a designated area.
Organizers of the event will provide coffee, hot chocolate
and doughnuts, donated by Joe’s Donut Shop in Sandy, for volunteers.
“They’ve got to do the work first before they get their
goodies,” said Cohen laughing.
More information about the event is available on the city of
Sandy community services website at
https://www.ci.sandy.or.us/comm-services/page/solve-it-sandy.
More information about SOLVE and other Earth Day events in
Oregon are available at https://www.solveoregon.org.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Levy on May ballot to fund Sheriff's Office upgrades posted on 04/01/2021
A levy to help fund the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office
(CCSO) operations will be on the May ballot, with voters to decide on renewing
a levy that would increase the rate by 12 cents to 36.8 cents per $1,000 of
assessed property value. The levy was first passed in 2006 and then renewed by
voters in 2011 and 2016 without any changes.
The levy follows a survey conducted by Patinkin Research
Strategies earlier this year which showed that 63 percent of the 400 likely
voters in the county who participated were in favor of the levy renewal at the
new rate. The survey proposed a series of questions regarding the CCSO and
different options of funding levels for a potential levy, including one option
with no increase.
“Our polling indicated that the least favored option was a
straight renewal of the levy,” Sheriff Angela Brandenburg wrote in an email to
the Mountain Times. “I believe this is due to the fact our expenses will exceed
revenue by the end of the levy, resulting in the reduction of approximately 12
law-enforcement positions.”
The current levy, which funds 84 jail beds in the county
jail, 30 jail deputies, 18 patrol deputies and the Sheriff’s specialized drug
enforcement team, expires on Dec. 31, 2021.
The renewed levy, Measure 3-566, would maintain those while
also adding 16 patrol deputies, six jail deputies, two internal affairs
investigators, implement and maintain a body-worn camera program and five
detectives to investigate elder abuse/neglect, child abuse/neglect, human
trafficking and felony crimes. The levy term would be from 2022-27 and would
cost approximately $98.26 per year on a home with an assessed value of $267,000
(an increase of $32.05 per year from the expiring levy).
It is estimated the proposed rate would raise $22.20 million
in 2022-23, $22.87 million in 2023-24, $23.56 million in 2024-25, $24.26
million in 2025-26 and $24.99 million in 2026-27.
Brandenburg noted that the operating budget for the CCSO has
remained relatively the same since the last time the levy was renewed, but that
expenses and demand for services have increased. The CCSO receives 64.28
percent of its funding from the county’s general fund, with 12.64 percent from
the levy, 10.81 percent from contracts, 6.75 percent from Enhanced Law
Enforcement District and the remainder from grants, charges for services,
licenses and permits.
The survey also revealed that 74 percent of respondents were
very satisfied with how the county spends tax dollars and 80 percent are
satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of service provided by the CCSO.
For more information, visit https://www.clackamas.us/sheriff.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Hoodland Fire teams up for live fire training posted on 04/01/2021
Volunteer recruits from the Hoodland Fire District (HFD)
participated in a live fire training event hosted by Estacada Fire District on
Feb. 27 at the Estacada Fire training grounds, 261 SE Jeremy Loveless Ave. in
Estacada. The exercise was an opportunity to provide training for the
firefighters under realistic conditions and to assure the firefighters are
trained to perform at their best when a real emergency occurs in the community.
“The trainees get to experience the heat and smoke of a fire
in a controlled environment,” HFD’s Lieutenant Andrew Figini said. “It’s a
safety thing. You don’t want to do anything for the first time in an
uncontrolled environment.”
Recruits from HFD were joined by recruits from Colton Rural
Fire Protection District for the
training exercises, utilizing Estacada Fire’s new mobile training facility.
The training was also an opportunity to assist Estacada Fire
District’s interim chief Steve Abel with running training exercises using the
new mobile training prop, while also offering a pool of instructors needed to
train an upcoming class of recruits for Estacada Fire. The recruits who
participated also fulfilled requirements for Oregon Department of Public Safety
Standards & Training certification.
“It was a train the trainer event,” Figini said. “We
assisted in learning how to run the prop and then train the students.
“It was an opportunity for good interdepartmental
cooperation between our department and theirs,” Figini added.
Eight recruits from Hoodland Fire and four recruits from
Colton Fire participated.
The new mobile prop is a shipping container with a set built
inside it out of wooden pallets and plywood. A fire is then set to simulate an
actual structure fire.
“It’s as close to being in a house on fire without having a
building to burn,” Figini said.
Figini explained that since the exercise is held in a metal
shipping container the fire is hotter than one experienced during a house fire.
`
“We built up the fire slowly throughout the day and eased
(the trainees) into the deep end easy,” Figini said. “They’d go in and get a
good hit, get a good knockdown and then we’d reset. If you go through the prop
you can pretty much handle anything.”
Estacada Fire held their first week of volunteer academy
starting on March 3. The district will train 24 recruits utilizing the mobile
training prop through June.
More information about the Hoodland Fire District is
available online at https://www.hoodlandfire.us.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| On stage: a weekend with Larry Wilder posted on 04/01/2021
Larry Wilder, a northwest musician known for his
entertaining performances of Americana, has played thousands of concerts,
including opening for such luminaries as Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt and Pete
Seeger, while also touring Europe three times and in Japan.
This past year has been a little different, although he has
done concerts over Zoom while also performing outdoors on occasion, including
at senior residences and for his neighbors.
“You can immediately see what it means to the people who are
there,” Wilder said.
On the weekend of April 24-25, Wilder will return to the
live stage at the Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company in Boring.
Wilder offers fast-paced entertainment featuring guitar,
banjo and vocals (he is a National Yodeling Champion) from across the entire
spectrum of Americana, including folk songs, popular country tunes and even the
unexpected, such as Irving Berlin or Cole Porter.
“I only do what they want to hear,” Wilder said of his
audience. “I want the shows to be quick and engaging and interactive. I want
them to remember me as being entertaining and that they felt good.”
Wilder, who counts Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and Woody
Guthrie as some of his influences, has been performing for decades and noted
that the most important part of his concerts is making his audience feel good.
“I think the longer I play, the more I can sense their
feelings and what really works for them,” he said.
Wilder noted that his performance is a journey through
Americana music, part of our musical heritage, and that multiple generations
are enthusiastic about the songs. And even if few people remember bands such as
the Kingston Trio today, the songs they sang still resonate with an audience.
“It’s the power of those songs,” Wilder said. “Whatever the
enthusiasm and fun was then, I don’t think it changes much.”
Wilder’s performances weave songs together, such as “I’ve
Been Everywhere” with “This Land Is Your Land” or the classic Cash tunes “Walk
the Line” and “Ring of Fire,” while interspersing them with some jokes and narratives.
He’s been known for playing two songs at the same time on a banjo, while also
leading sing-alongs with the audience.
“If the folks want to participate, I encourage that,” Wilder
said.
NNB presents Larry Wilder at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 24
and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 25 at the Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in
Boring. The performances are a fundraiser and donations will be accepted at the
door. Capacity for each performance will be limited to 50. For more
information, or to make reservations, call 503-593-1295 or visit
nnbtheater.com, and don’t forget to bring a mask.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Welches Schools reopen posted on 03/01/2021
On Thursday, Feb. 18, Debbie Ortiz dropped her five-year-old
son, James, off at Welches Schools for his first day of in-person kindergarten.
She described the process that she and her husband went through to make the
decision for James to go as “a struggle,” following the months of virtual
learning due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We sat down and talked it over. We went through all the
information the school sent us; it helped,” Debbie said. “The first day after I
dropped him off, I went back to my vehicle and I cried. I hope I did the right
thing.
“Everything seems to be going really well so far,” she
added.
That Thursday marked the return of kindergarteners and first
graders to Welches Schools, with Principal Kendra Payne noting approximately 70
percent of students opting in for the hybrid model, while the remainder will
continue with virtual distance learning. Each student is part of a “cohort,” a
small group that attends school in person on either Monday/Thursday or
Tuesday/Friday, while attending virtually on the other days.
Payne said the early returns of the hybrid schedule are
going “really well.”
“I just feel like our kiddos have needed this and we’ve
needed it as educators, as well,” Payne said. “I really surprised myself at how
emotional I got when those first kids came in and realized how much I had
relied on them and how much their absence in the building has really just
affected our own mission and our passion. It’s been just really positive.”
The return to school is based on the county’s metrics for
coronavirus case rates, case counts and positive tests. Payne noted that
subsequent grades are expected to return in phases, depending on if the metrics
allow: second and third graders returned Thursday, Feb. 25, while fourth and
fifth graders are expected to return on Thursday, March 4 and sixth, seventh
and eighth graders on Thursday, March 11.
“At this point I feel like we’re going to be pretty well on
track with that timeline,” Payne said.
Numerous protocols are in place due to the pandemic, including
required face coverings for students, staff and visitors, six feet of physical
distancing between people (including proper spacing for desks and tables),
visual screenings for symptoms, sanitizing classrooms and frequent touchpoints
and more. Students will not eat breakfast or lunch at the school, but will
receive a meal pack as they exit for home (teachers may include snack breaks
and will share more information on this with families).
Payne noted that it was a challenge to address the required
components for reopening and addressing all the logistics that go into a
typical school day, from paths of travel in the hallways and the use of
bathrooms, to how to use exits/entrances and the way in which arrivals and
dismissals will take place.
“We’ve just really had to kind of think about all of it a
little bit differently and just be willing to change our processes,” she said.
One updated change will be a drive-through loop for parents
to pick up their children after school. Vehicles will enter from Salmon River
Road, travel to the basketball court (between the elementary and middle school
buildings), use a number system associated with all the children in the family
to pick them up and then exit via Woodsey Way.
“That was actually inspired by the PGE support stations that
were set up during the fires,” Payne said, referencing the wildfires that
impacted the area in September 2020.
Even with all the protocols in place, the district is also
preparing for a possible positive test at the school, including following state
and county guidelines such as isolation, parent notification,
cleaning/disinfecting and contact tracing. Oregon Trail School District
Communications Director Julia Monteith noted that even if a test were to come
back positive, that might not mean the school would cease in-person
instruction.
“It would be more probable that if there was an exposure
within a cohort, that cohort might need to quarantine for a couple weeks, but
not necessarily both cohorts,” Monteith said, adding that the metrics in
Clackamas County are “really good right now.”
Monteith also noted that the district’s schools could stay
open even if the county’s metrics rose, as long as the school’s metrics were
under control, while also offering COVID testing.
Meanwhile, James appreciates being back at school “because
of my friends,” although his mom reported one aspect about the return that he’d
like to see some improvement on.
“The only thing he said the first day is, ‘We can’t go play
on the swings and stuff,’” Debbie said.
For more information about OTSD’s hybrid learning and the
return to school visit www.oregontrailschools.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Vision of Rhody's future offered in February meeting posted on 03/01/2021
Clackamas County and MIG Consultants hosted a Zoom meeting
on Wednesday, Feb. 10 to present a draft of three design alternatives for the
Rhododendron Main Street Site Redevelopment Plan and share community feedback
gathered from a survey conducted in December 2020.
The presentation highlighted the community survey
participants’ preference for a redevelopment plan that includes rental housing
on the site over a design alternative featuring a larger hotel.
Jon Pheanis, the representative for MIG Consultants,
presented design alternatives for associated transit, frontage and crossing
improvements for the redevelopment site.
These elements have all received positive feedback from the
community during the outreach and planning period.
“We’re not starting from scratch, that’s not what this
project is about,” Pheanis said. He detailed MIG’s goal of supporting the
community’s vision while integrating transportation and land use planning.
“The redevelopment site’s location between the river and the
highway poses challenges due to setback requirements,” Pheanis added.
Of the three design concepts, one featured a hotel and
additional retail space, while the other two consisted of a mixture or rental
housing and retail. The survey results showed a strong preference for rental
housing and a general disapproval for the out-of-scale design of a larger
structure.
Pheanis stated that Clackamas County and the Oregon
Department of Transportation had informed the consultants that zoning requirements
would limit the proposed number of housing units on the site and that
development would need to comply with a legal requirement to preserve access to
the separate lots.
“ODOT is eager to assist the redevelopment in enabling safer
access for all users,” said ODOT representative Kate Hawkins.
Hawkins stated a traffic study would be the next step for
transportation planning in the community. Hawkins added that many of the
proposed changes would be easier to implement after the department sees the construction
of a sidewalk.
“We want to work with the community here,” she said.
Brett Fischer, a representative for the owners of the
private property at the proposed development site, stated that any development
planning would make it difficult to include a location for the Park and Ride
service which currently utilizes the lots. Fischer added that access to the
private property for use by the Park and Ride was a temporary allowance until
the sites were developed.
Senior Planner for Clackamas County Scott Hoelscher stated
that the next step of the redevelopment process would entail prioritizing
frontage improvements which can only take place pending both funding and the
development of the private property at the site.
“The private property’s development is not guided by the
county, although the overall redevelopment is a community effort built by
consensus we hope,” Hoelscher said.
Hoelscher stated the county would examine the feedback and
comments from the community while continuing to access the redevelopment plan.
“It’s a community project, we want to hear from everyone,”
Fischer said about the private property owners' desire to incorporate community
feedback into their decision-making process.
$68,350 in funding to
hire the MIG consulting team came from a Transportation and Growth Management
Grant – Quick Response Program from ODOT and Oregon Department of Land
Conservation and Development.
More information about the project, including a video of the
Feb. 10 meeting and a PDF of the draft recommendations, is available online at
https://www.clackamas.us/engineering/rhododendron-main-street-redevelopment-plan.
Scott Hoelscher can be emailed at scotthoe@clackamas.us.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| New Welches residential subdivision in early stages posted on 03/01/2021
Clackamas County received a pre-application conference
request on Wednesday, Feb. 3 regarding a partition/subdivision of nearly eight
acres of land south of Hwy. 26 and to the east of Vincent Road, with Stage Stop
Road near the southeast corner in Welches. The project could result in a 27-lot
single family residential subdivision on the land, currently divided between
two owners: Jeremy Zuidema, who owns 5.76 acres, and Jeff Goode, who owns 2.06
acres directly to the south of Zuidema’s property.
The land for the project is opposite another parcel of land
on the west side of Vincent Road that was recently logged.
In an email to the Mountain Times, Zuidema stressed that the
project is in the preliminary stages and aspects of it could change.
“We envision a community with a mountain feel, similar to
houses on Bright (Avenue),” Zuidema wrote, adding that they anticipate the
houses being between 1,600 to 2,500 square feet at a cost between $450,000 and
$550,000 each. “We are considering other affordable housing options but need to
discuss these ideas with the county planning (department).”
Ben Blessing, Senior Planner with Clackamas County Planning
and Zoning, noted in an email to the Mountain Times that if the project moves
forward with a land use application, a formal notice will be mailed to
neighbors within a certain radius around the property and will also be posted
on the county’s website.
“Input and comments from the surrounding community or
anybody else will be added to the record and considered in the land use
decision,” Blessing wrote.
The pre-application conference request noted the property is
currently vacant with “no significant trees” and a slope of approximately two
percent from east to west.
The request also inquired about a representative from the Oregon
Department of Transportation being included due to the property’s proximity to
Hwy. 26.
Zuidema noted that the timeline for the project could see
construction beginning by the end of the year.
“I am hoping to have the street and utilities infrastructure
finished mid to late summer,” he wrote. “Hopefully we can start building houses
in September or October.”
Goode did not respond to a request for comments before
publication.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Brenda Manley
Brenda Manley, postmaster for the U.S. Postal Service in the
Mount Hood region, retired in February after a 30-year career serving the
mountain communities.
Manley ended her role as the postmaster in Welches,
Government Camp, Brightwood and Rhododendron. She currently resides in
Rhododendron and plans to spend her retirement enjoying all the activities
available in the region during the work week.
“I’ve been so fortunate I get to live, work and play on the
mountain. I’ll be doing a lot more playing Monday through Friday,” Manley said.
Manley started her career as a postmaster relief at the
Brightwood post office in 1991. She worked every Saturday for eight years in
this role until her promotion to postmaster.
Manley served as the postmaster in Welches for 17 years and
added on the responsibilities of overseeing the Government Camp, Brightwood and
Rhododendron offices eight years ago.
“I’ll miss seeing members of the community, my coworkers and
seeing kids grow up,” Manley said about leaving her position. “You really get
to be part of the community. I’ve even weighed a few babies.”
During her tenure Manley oversaw the centennial celebrations
for three mountain post offices: Welches in 2005, Brightwood in 2010 and
Rhododendron in 2020.
Manley’s 30-year career experienced many changes to the U.S.
Postal Service. When she began in Brightwood in 1991 the office included a
calculator, stamps, a telephone and no computer.
“The biggest change was automation: you hardly have to sort
any mail these days,” Manley said. “And Amazon of course, Amazon trucks every
morning.”
Manley plans to spend her new free time skiing, hiking,
gardening and enjoying time with her family.
“My family is very happy I’m retiring,” said Manley.
The at times inclement weather on the mountain can make
delivering the mail a challenge during severe storms. Manley recalled a
particularly heavy storm that downed powerlines and blocked access to the
Brightwood post office. Manley commandeered her family’s sleds to pull the mail
from the office to waiting delivery vehicles.
Now she anticipates her visits to the post office will have
a much more relaxed feel.
“The post office is such a focal point in the community.
When people are picking up their mail they’ll stand around, talk and catch up
with their neighbors,” Manley said. “Now when I’m picking up my mail, I’ll be
able to visit.”
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| New technology to assist Hoodland Fire posted on 03/01/2021
The Hoodland Fire District (HFD) expected to have three
LUCAS chest compression system devices ready to use last month, reducing close
contact emergency responders will have with patients and improving the chances
patients who are in cardiac arrest will survive.
The three devices were made possible thanks to approximately
$41,000 in grant money from the CARES Act, last year’s economic stimulus in
response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s equipment that our fire district would never be able
to afford without the CARES funding,” said Brian Henrichs, the HFD Division
Chief who spearheaded the effort to get the devices. “It will hopefully last us
a really long time.”
Henrichs noted that each of the three district’s stations
will have one of the LUCAS devices, which offers responders the ability to
provide hands-free cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The devices, he added,
came out approximately ten years ago and can be found in numerous other fire
districts, including in Sandy and Gresham.
Responders may still initiate CPR, Henrichs said, performing
it hands-on for up to four minutes before a quick transition to get the device
in place and turned on. But he noted that the devices can be so successful that
it induces patients to regain consciousness, not something that is frequently
achieved with manual CPR.
Henrichs added that the district needed to wait on extra
batteries for the devices, which are necessary in the district due to the
travel time involved with taking patients to an interventional cardiac
catheterization lab, where a stent can be installed. That travel time from the
HFD can take up to 45 minutes, which is also approximately how long one battery
will last, and Henrichs noted it would be unfortunate to have to switch to
manual CPR part way through the journey.
Henrichs, who joined the district three years ago after
working for American Medical Response, added the training to get the district’s
responders up to speed on the new device was fairly easy, taking only 30
minutes. He also noted that anyone at the Emergency Medical Technician level or
higher in the district can use it.
“It’s one of the best life-saving devices,” Henrichs said.
“I don’t know why we haven’t had it for years.”
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Leather crafts for a lifetime at Dark Forest posted on 03/01/2021
Welches resident Jeff Curry appreciates well-crafted objects
that can last a long time, but sees us living in a society that is more focused
on buying stuff that will quickly be thrown away. Curry still uses his
grandmother’s cast iron pan, seasoned decades ago and still doing its job,
while also enjoying a record player and the records that date back to his
mother’s youth.
“You just don’t throw those away,” Curry said. “They still
work perfectly great. I’m much more interested in things you're going to hold
on to and have more meaning.”
And with that philosophy in mind, Curry opened his new
business venture, Dark Forest USA, a lifestyle goods company that offers
handmade leather products, including wallets, camera straps, cast iron mittens
and more.
Curry, who grew up in Pittsfield, Mass. and went to school
in Vermont, uses American leather and thread for his products and the leather
is tanned with vegetable oil, making it more environmentally friendly than the
chemical-based alternatives. His products also come with a lifetime guarantee.
“I really wanted to make something that would stand the test
of time,” Curry said, adding that he’s “on a crusade” to share with people why
investing in something that is well-made will pay off in the long run, rather
than buying a number of cheap alternatives.
Dark Forest USA, named with that idea that even in the
deepest, darkest parts of the forest, the light will always shine through, is
Curry’s second business venture, after starting the textile company Treefort
with a business partner. During that endeavor, Curry learned some basic leather
skills while creating hundreds of different logos for a variety of products,
but when he suffered a ski injury in 2017, he started developing his new
business during his recovery.
“From there, I just kind of got hooked on the whole
leatherworking thing,” he said.
Curry, who also worked locally at Windell’s Ski Camp as a
ski coach, noted that the momentum for his new company gained steam during the
coronavirus pandemic, when he was stuck at home and devoted more time into
crafting leather.
He added that when he takes his pieces to craft fairs, the
cast iron mitten (used to protect hands from a hot skillet) is a popular item,
while his golf tee holster (featuring embossed initials) was a hit as a
Christmas present for his father.
In the near future, Curry hopes to figure out the final
designs for feminine wallets, saying that he’s always experimenting with new
designs, but he doesn’t want to rush something along and then have to change
it.
“I’m a very meticulous person,” he said. “I need to figure
it out and make a couple to test out before releasing it.”
For more information, visit www.darkforestusa.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| The 'Ives' of March at Nutz-n-Boltz posted on 03/01/2021
Kelly Lazenby, Artistic Director of Boring’s Nutz-n-Boltz
Theater Company (NNB), notes that the short plays by David Ives that will be
performed as readings in March will appeal to people who are familiar with the
culture of live theater.
“They’re very clever word plays, all of them,” she said. “There’s
a bunch of homage to theater itself in each play. If you’ve been in theater
before, understand where it’s coming from.”
Of course, even for those audience members who are
theatrical novices will also enjoy them, thanks to Ives’ wit and humor. The performances,
taken from his compendium “All in the Timing,” include plays that examine all
the bad decisions on a first date, making up a language on the fly and three
monkeys tasked with writing “Hamlet.”
Lazenby noted the performances will be readings, featuring
actors with scripts in hand and minimal props. The theater has offered a number
of these types of evenings in recent months, as they are more manageable to
produce while adhering to COVID-19 restrictions.
“It's a good way to do something that doesn’t need a whole
lot of preparation,” Lazenby said, adding that they also offer a chance for the
performers to stretch their acting chops with some interesting characters.
She also noted the theater is limited to 20 percent
capacity, but that they have been encouraged by seeing some new attendees for
the recent shows.
Performances will take place with all necessary safety
protocols in place, including seats spaced to allow for social distancing,
sanitizing all seats between performances, hand sanitizer and staff wearing
masks and gloves. If any performances are not allowed to go on, all prepaid
tickets will be refunded in full.
The cast will include Ian Leiner, Justin Lazenby, Kim
Berger, Tracey Grant, Kraig Williams and Kelly Lazenby.
NNB presents “All in the Timing” March 19-21 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. For more information, or to make reservations,
call 503-593-1295 or visit nnbtheater.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Ella Vogel (left) and Leita Bibler.
The Hoodland Senior Center faces an uncertain future as
Clackamas County considers ending ownership of the building the center has
occupied since 2012.
Senior Center director Ella Vogel noted Representatives of
Clackamas County Social Services told the local not-for-profit in July 2020 to
prepare for the sale of their current venue.
“There’s a good possibility we’d have to shut down,” Vogel
said about the possible loss of the venue.
County representatives have been unable to provide a
decision on the sale or a timeline for the not-for-profit to find a new
community space since the July announcement, leaving the center concerned about
its ability to continue to provide the community services it currently offers.
The building that the Hoodland Senior Center occupies was
originally built by the U.S. Forest Service as an information center. Clackamas
County Tourism and Cultural Affairs purchased the building following the
closure of the information center and entered into an agreement to rent the
property to the senior center for $1 a month in 2012.
The center’s lease with the county states, “because the
property was purchased with transient room tax revenue, this arrangement must
have a “tourism” benefit to justify the occupation by a lessee for below market
value rent. This arrangement will benefit the traveling public by making public
restroom facilities available.”
Vogel noted that the senior center’s lease includes an
agreement to purchase all supplies for the public restrooms and to keep them
clean. The lease details that all maintenance and repairs of the building are
the responsibility of the county.
The county tourism department implemented a 75 percent
budget cut as a result of pandemic related tourism revenue shortages in May of
2020. At that time the oversight of the senior center building was transferred
to the social services department. The county has made a decision to evaluate
continued ownership of the building due to revenue shortages.
“The income we have to keep facilities is gone,” said
Kimberly Dinwiddie, Clackamas County public information officer.
The county has not yet begun an evaluation of the building.
The evaluation will factor in maintenance and repair costs including a new
roof.
Dinwiddie stated that “all options are on the table” and
that the county will begin “gathering facts to form opinions” to present their
findings to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) in the summer. A decision
on the building is expected to be made by the BCC in the fall.
“These conversations are very early,” Dinwiddie said. “We’re
a long way from making a decision.”
The Senior Center offers programs and provides opportunities
that promote independent living for senior adults aging in place in the
county’s rural communities.
The Senior Center uses its current location to provide a
Meals on Wheels program for seniors 60 years of age or older in Alder Creek,
Sandy, Brightwood, Rhododendron and Welches. The organization provides medical
rides, food boxes, energy assistance and information and assistance connecting
with Clackamas County resources. The center serves as a meeting space for
community organizations such as local water districts, the Hoodland Women’s
Club, the Trillium Garden Club, classes, study groups, tai chi and the Welches
mobile library.
“We realize the Senior Center plays a pivotal role in our communities,
not only with the services it provides, but as a gathering place. We intend to
keep the community informed on the decision-making process,” Dinwiddie said.
The Hoodland Senior Center is located at 65000 E. Hwy. 26 in
the Mount Hood Village RV Resort and can be reached by phone at (503) 622-3331.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Angela Brandenburg takes over as the new County Sheriff posted on 02/01/2021
Angela Brandenburg took over as the Clackamas County Sheriff
last month, following the retirement of Craig Roberts after 16 years on the
job. Brandenburg is the 33rd county sheriff since 1845, when William Livingston
Holmes became the first.
Brandenburg has served with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s
Office (CCSO) for 27 years, working up through the ranks from Reserve Deputy to
Undersheriff, while also taking on roles including the Public Information
Officer and as a member of both the Search & Rescue and SWAT Teams. She
also served for five years as the Director of A Safe Place Family Justice
Center and was responsible for leading CCSO’s Domestic Violence Enhanced
Response Team.
Brandenburg, who lives in Molalla, also served nine years in
the Oregon Army National Guard.
Roberts, who joined the CCSO in 1979 as a reserve deputy,
praised Brandenburg in a statement he released upon his retirement.
“Sheriff Brandenburg is taking command of an incredible
operation,” Roberts said in the statement. “I know the Sheriff’s Office will
only further its tradition of excellence under her leadership.”
Former Sheriff Roberts’ full statement is available on the
CCSO website, www.clackamas.us/sheriff/news.
To introduce the new Sheriff to our readers, the Mountain
Times (MT) emailed a series of questions to her, which are presented here:
MT: What has been your experience, both as a member of the
CCSO and as a civilian, when visiting the Mountain?
Sheriff Brandenburg: “Early in my career I did a stint as
CCSO's Public Information Officer, and I also had the honor of working closely
with the Mountain community for several years as a Sheriff’s Office
representative on the Mt. Hood Coalition Against Drug Crime citizen group. This
relationship continued as a Patrol deputy and Sergeant, when I served on the
front lines in the area. During this time, I became familiar with residents'
deep love for their community, as well as their passion to keep it safe. As a
Clackamas County resident, I know we're so fortunate to have Mt. Hood in our
backyard. I love the outdoors and visit the mountain with my family often. I
recognize this community survives in part thanks to visitors like my family.”
MT: You have spent 28 years with the CCSO, why did you
choose this career path and what do you find most rewarding about your work in
the CCSO?
Sheriff Brandenburg: “After graduating high school, I joined the
Oregon Army National Guard, following in the footsteps of family members who
enlisted. That marked the beginning of my public service. I joined CCSO as a
Reserve deputy and quickly realized this was the work for me. The ability to
help people who cannot help themselves is absolutely rewarding. I jumped into
full-time law-enforcement work with both feet, and I'm honored to serve my
community each and every day.”
MT: Clackamas County includes urban, suburban and rural
areas throughout a large land territory.
What are the biggest challenges in covering such a diverse
area?
Sheriff Brandenburg: “Although patrol is the most visible part of
our office, we provide many services across the county. We are responsible for
the jail, court security, civil service, investigations and search and rescue,
and we have many special units and partnerships throughout the county. Managing
all of these responsibilities, keeping performance at a high level and meeting
the expectations of our diverse communities is a great challenge.”
MT: Members of the Mountain community have expressed
concerns in the past regarding two subjects in particular: response time after
calling the CCSO and speeders on Hwy. 26.
How can the Sheriff’s Office work toward improving these
issues on the Mountain, and what are the challenges in doing so?
Sheriff Brandenburg: “Highway 26 is the major thoroughfare
on the mountain, and I realize traffic related issues are of concern. 26 is a
state highway, which makes it the jurisdiction of the Oregon State Police. As
you know, their staffing is low at the moment, and they do not provide 24-hour
service. Our deputies supplement in the area by providing patrol services,
traffic and DUII enforcement, and crash response.
One of my priorities is to determine if we're using our
resources effectively and efficiently. To that end we'll be working with an
outside firm to conduct a comprehensive staffing study. We'll be looking at how
we staff our patrol districts, including looking for any areas where service
can be improved.
We're also talking to our Patrol deputies, who know their
districts well and are familiar with areas that are likely to need more
attention. In their available time, those are the areas they generally patrol.
We stop a lot of criminals in the act by using these proactive approaches.
My goal (is) to use the information from this staffing study
to drive our decision making regarding our resource allocations early in my
administration.”
Editor’s note: The staffing study Sheriff Brandenburg
mentioned was approved and began in early January. It is expected to take up to
15 weeks to complete.
MT: The Search and Rescue efforts have gone through
restructuring in the past year: where do they currently stand and do you have
any other plans for further changes to the structure?
Sheriff Brandenburg: “Year after year, we are seeing a
10-15% increase in the number of searches we conduct. Last year we restructured
and formed Clackamas County Search and Rescue (CSAR), and still work alongside
volunteer organizations such as Portland Mountain Rescue. We have great working
relationships with our partners in the search and rescue community. That's key
in accomplishing SAR missions, which often involve multiple agencies and
organizations working in concert. I will continue to strengthen our
relationships with our partners. This in turn will improve our capabilities to
conduct safe and successful missions.”
MT: Police agencies face so many challenges in this day and
age, what is the biggest challenge for the CCSO?
Sheriff Brandenburg: “Currently the lack of resources to help those
affected by mental-health and addiction issues is one of the biggest
challenges, not only for CCSO but for all our local law-enforcement partners.
The lack of these resources and the recent closure of the Hooper Detox
Stabilization Center means more people are ending up in the jail and the
criminal justice system, where they do not belong. You have to address these
problems at the root, leading with addiction and mental-health services.”
MT: In the past year, there has been a discussion in this
country about police reform and how police interact with people of color. Do
you see any opportunities within the CCSO to make changes along these lines?
Sheriff Brandenburg: “Under my leadership, we will continue
to be dedicated to serving all of our communities. One of my goals includes
engagement with all of our communities by every level of my office – from
deputies on the street to my command staff. What I do know and recognize is
that many communities are fearful of law enforcement, and we have to meet them
where they're at. Together, through open and safe dialogue, we can be more
responsive to their unique needs, promote trust, and make improvements in the
services we deliver.
Another priority of mine is to promote transparency and
officer safety. I’m seeking funds to purchase body-worn cameras for our
personnel. I want the public to better understand our work, and I believe these
cameras will be a helpful tool and critical to transparency.”
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Commissioner Mark Shull asked to resign posted on 02/01/2021
Clackamas County Commissioner Mark Shull, who defeated Ken
Humberston in the November election and was sworn in earlier in January, was
censured by the Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) on
Thursday, Jan. 14 for comments posted on social media that were “derogatory,
offensive, insensitive and racist,” as noted by the board's resolution. The BCC
further called for Shull’s resignation, adding to a growing chorus of people
and organizations critical of Shull for his posts.
The BCC resolution, which passed by a 5-0 vote (including
Shull voting for it), further noted that Shull “imputed to Clackamas County a
reputation of racist, sexist, and religious insensitivity and intolerance,”
damaged the county’s reputation and that his “statements and opinions are
detrimental to the trust and confidence of the residents of Clackamas County
and the Board of Commissioners’ ability to ensure the delivery of services to
the County’s residents.”
“Last summer, the Board of County Commissioners passed a
Resolution Condemning Violence and Racism against Black/African American and
all people of color,” BCC Chair Tootie Smith said in a statement. “This
Resolution serves as a call to action for the County to address systemic
disparities and ensure that all people can feel safe and thrive in our county.
I am in full support of the resolution and of the work of the Equity and
Inclusion Office and the value the office brings to our county employees and
residents.”
Shull released a lengthy statement on Monday, Jan. 18
requesting forgiveness and understanding from the Muslim community, while
noting he “never expected these conversations (on social media) to extend past
the people in those discussions.”
“I certainly didn’t imagine that some of these would be
presented to countless people, causing real fear, anxiety and pain,” he added.
Shull noted in the release that he received hate mail and
death threats, while also outlining a meeting with members of the Muslim
community.
“Today we must listen to the voices of wisdom of the past
who taught us about love and tolerance,” he said in the press release. “We must
listen to the opinions of others with respect even when we do not agree with
them.
The Oregon Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations also called for Shull’s resignation, noting on its website, “There is
time for people like this to redeem and repair themselves, and the communities
they affected. But it cannot come with just an apology. These things will take
time, as the damage runs deep. These were not merely one-off comments from
several years ago. The statements were targeted, rife with bigotry, dog
whistles, and doubling down hard.”
A video link to access a recording of the BCC meeting when
Shull was censored is available at https://youtu.be/ozmIR_lOnz0.
Shull indicated that he would not resign and under Oregon
law, he can only be recalled after serving six months of his term.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Mountain businesses team up for raffle to benefit restaurants posted on 02/01/2021
Two Mount Hood businesses have teamed up to show some love
to local restaurants struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic this Valentine’s
Day.
Mount Hood Cannabis in Rhododendron will raffle a
custom-made snowboard from Welches-based Habitual Snowboard Company in an
effort to promote dining at local restaurants impacted by a loss of business
due to the pandemic. The drawing will be held on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, Feb.
14, a holiday that is traditionally a busy day for the restaurant industry.
“A significant part of our customer base are chefs, waiters
and dishwashers at local restaurants. They’re really taking a beating due to
COVID this season,” said Michael Budd, owner of Mount Hood Cannabis. “Both of
our businesses are having a great snow season, and we wanted to transfer some
of that benefit back to others.”
Community members can enter the drawing for free by bringing
a receipt from dining at a local restaurant in 2021 to Mount Hood Cannabis. The
receipt will be exchanged for five raffle tickets.
Raffle tickets are also available for purchase at the
dispensary and at Mountain Mogul Pizza, located at 68278 East Hwy. 26 in
Welches, for individuals under the age of 21. Ticket costs are one for $5,
three for $10 and seven for $20. Proceeds from the sale of the tickets will be
donated to Meals on Wheels.
Budd stated the partnership with Habitual Snowboards was a
natural fit because “the product is exciting, and it will hopefully energize
people to get involved.”
Habitual Snowboards is a Mount Hood-founded “farm to table”
snowboard company that uses locally sourced American manufactured materials to
craft their boards entirely in-house at their shop in Welches.
“Supporting our local community is just as important to us
as shaping and riding snowboards,” the company notes on its website.
Mount Hood Cannabis also highlighted the importance of
community involvement to their business.
“Our customers and employees just want to be positive influences
on the community, and we’re always looking for a way to contribute,” Budd said.
Mount Hood Cannabis is located at 73410 Hwy. 26 in
Rhododendron and can be contacted by phone at 503-622-4272. More information
about the dispensary, including updates on the raffle, can be found on its
Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Mount-Hood-Cannabis-Compnay-1520388478061986/.
For more information about Habitual Snowboard Company visit
its website at https://www.habitualsnow.com or by email at
habitualsnowboardsco@gmail.com.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| 'Besties' a first step for Log Lodge posted on 02/01/2021
Last summer, Anita Halmøy Wisløff-Menteer and Erik Sims
Wisløff-Menteer found themselves as the new owners of the Log Lodge in
Rhododendron and in the middle of a pandemic. And thanks to how so many aspects
of life as they knew it were shut down due to the coronavirus (including Erik’s
band, Blitzen Trapper, not being able to tour) the pair sold their Portland
house and moved to Rhododendron.
“We just realized that neither of us had anything going on
in Portland, so we might as well just head up to the Mountain,” Erik said.
Anita and Erik have a larger vision for the Log Lodge, a
historic building on the south side of Hwy. 26, but while they chip away at
repairing and restoring it, they also opened Bestie’s Coffee, a food truck that
offers beverages and food. They see their location as convenient for tourists
travelling up to Mount Hood and hope that locals swing by, too.
Anita, who grew up in a small mountain town in Norway, noted
they will focus on offering things that people can take with them on a ski trip
or other recreational activities, with plans to have sandwiches and pastries in
the future. She also noted they might offer “wieners in a thermos,” a popular
skiing meal in Norway that features hot dogs in a thermos with hot water, buns
and condiments for a hot lunch on the slopes.
“We do that all the time up (on Mount Hood) and we get a lot
of weird looks,” she said. “It’s a great thing, so hopefully people will try it
out.”
Erik, who grew up in Salem, added that they will offer Water
Avenue coffee, noting it’s a good change of pace from some of the heavier brews
they experienced in Portland.
“We really like their coffee and the roasting methods,” he
said. “It’s incredibly flavorful. They’re just a really solid team.”
The pair plan to feature coffee in the Log Lodge when they
open it, offering a place for people to sit and work during the day. And even
though no firm timeline is in place for that to open, they both can appreciate
the fact that due to the pandemic they would be closed up even if the building
was ready.
“For us, it’s weirdly good timing,” Anita said. “We wouldn’t
have been able to open anyway.”
And to help people who want to make a quick stop while
getting their drinks, Bestie’s Coffee can be preordered online, allowing
beverages to be finished by the time people stop by.
The pair added that they are extremely grateful to the
community of Rhododendron and their neighbors, who have been very helpful as
they have started their endeavors.
“We love it up here; everyone is so amazingly nice,” Anita
said. “It’s so fun to be part of such a small community. The nature is
amazing.”
Bestie’s Coffee is located at 73330 Hwy. 26 and is open from
7 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week.
For more information, or to preorder, visit
Bestiescoffee.net.
Anita added that late in January, a second food truck joined
in at the location. The Flavor Bus offers breakfast, lunch, drinks and catering,
featuring bright veggies, sustainable fish, better meats and all-around healthy
recipes.
Menu items include sashimi grade albacore, house-made turkey
chorizo and vegan herb maple sausages, with house-made sauces such as Liger
sauce made with cashew, red pepper and grapefruit and a low-sugar teriyaki
sauce.
Hours for the Flavor Bus will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays
through Sundays. For more information, visit www.theflavorbus.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Draft plan for Rhody to be presented Feb. 10 posted on 02/01/2021
Clackamas County and MIG Consultants will host an online
virtual meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10 to present a draft of the
Rhododendron Main Street Site Redevelopment Plan. The plan will include
feedback from a survey and video conducted in December on three design
alternatives for the community, including associated transit, frontage and
crossing improvements.
The December survey received a total of 239 responses.
Scott Hoelscher, Clackamas County Senior Planner noted that
feedback received from the Feb. 10 meeting will be used to make further
refinements to the plan and that one more final meeting to review the draft
will be held. After that, it will be packaged into a final report.
Hoelscher added that he hopes to make the information that
will be presented at the Feb. 10 meeting available to the public at another
location, allowing people who don’t have internet access a chance to offer
comments.
Steve Graeper, President of the Rhododendron Community
Planning Organization, which has spearheaded the “Rhody Rising” efforts, agreed
that it is important for more people to be a part of the process.
“There are a lot of people on the Mountain that don’t have
access or are uncomfortable with the internet,” he said.
The project is a partnership with Mt. Hood Holdings, LLC,
Rhododendron Community Planning Organization (CPO), Clackamas County and the
Transportation and Growth Management Program (TGM). The Rhododendron Main
Street Site Redevelopment Plan offers an opportunity for local residents and
businesses to plan for redevelopment in a way that reduces demand on the
transportation system while accommodating desired workforce housing.
The project area centers on two privately held properties on
the southwest side of Hwy. 26 totaling 3.73 acres. Publicly owned lands
adjacent to the Rhododendron Swinging Bridge and the Rhododendron Community
Landscape at the Barlow Trail Oregon Historic Marker are also included.
For more information or to find a link to the Feb. 10
meeting, visit the project website at https://www.clackamas.us/engineering/rhododendron-main-street-redevelopment-plan.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| 10 Years: Flood recovery, plaque recovered and coffee 'Crew' posted on 02/01/2021
The Flood
In the Feb. 2011 issue of The Mountain Times, it was
reported the mountain community was still busy mopping up from the floods that
raged through mountain neighborhoods in mid-January, with residents, volunteers
and emergency personnel alike responding in an overwhelming display of selflessness.
Heartwarming stories of neighbors helping neighbors poured
in, the Hoodland Fire District set up emergency operations and an evacuation
center, enthusiastic volunteers of all ages turned up to fill sandbags,
benefits for flood victims were planned and much more. From this unwelcome
event which devastated significant portions of the mountain, an outpouring of
care, compassion, concern and support for one another came to the fore.
Magic Mile Plaque
The Magic Mile Plaque, which disappeared from the slopes of
Timberline Lodge in years past suddenly reappeared when a man who wished to
remain anonymous found it while moving belongings from his mother's house and
shipped it to Christy Covington, Zigzag Ranger District coordinator.
Originally placed at the first tower of the Magic Mile, the
plaque commemorated the first Magic Mile chairlift, and was dedicated by
Norway's Crowned Prince Olaf on May 21, 1939.
The Magic Mile is considered to be the first ski lift built
and fabricated with steel towers and was the first lift to serve Timberline
Lodge.
Covington planned on re-installing the plaque at the Silcox
Hut, noting it also has a connection to the lift. Unfortunately, the plaque is
not the first historical treasure to disappear, or even reappear, at or around
Timberline Lodge, and Covington said that one year an ashtray was returned.
Who knows what lurks in our basements and attics.
Mt Hood Business Alliance – Pharmacy
The recently formed Mount Hood Business Alliance announced
at its meeting in Jan. 2011 that a new pharmacy on the mountain was a distinct
possibility, and semi-retired local pharmacist Jeff Williams was approached by
the group to get the ball rolling.
"People keep saying 'do it.' I'm certainly open to
talking about it (with Thriftway). The Mountain certainly needs the
service," Williams said.
The idea of Thriftway being a possible site for the project
was discussed, although as mountain residents will recall, the pharmacy
ultimately opened up in the Rendezvous shopping center. It has since closed its
doors.
Brew Crew
After purchasing 'Java the Hut' in Jan. 2011 from Rick and
Georgi Tyson, new owners Travis and Suzy Brewster opened the coffee shop
located in the Hoodland Shopping Center under the new name of “Coffee
Brewsters.” The Brewsters had plans to redecorate the interior and convert the
look to a more lodge-like rustic feel, which resulted in old snow shoes and
skis being dropped off by locals.
Despite the changes to the decor, the Brewsters stuck to the
slogan "Where the Mountain gets its coffee," which remains to this
day.
In other news
Students at the Welches Middle School vowed to stomp out
bullying, a packed Villages at Mt. Hood Town Hall meeting heard information
from Clackamas County Commissioners regarding the flood and the proposed
mountain bike trails on Mount Hood, and the Cascade Ski Club in Government Camp
hosted the “Come Fly with Us” open ski jump competition at Skibowl.
By Fran Berteau/MT |
|  File photo by Lara Wilent.
As the Mountain community enters the cold and dark season
(all while dealing with a pandemic), the 10-year anniversary of the 2011 flood
reminds us all that a little warmth at the wrong time can be a very dangerous
thing. Unseasonably warm temperatures coupled with heavy rainfall and melting
snow wreaked havoc in mid-January 2011, causing flooding in the Sandy, Zigzag
and Salmon Rivers while leaving more than 200 people without electricity, water
or telephone service, and necessitating a human chain up and down Lolo Pass
Road. Thankfully, nobody perished in the flood, but three houses were lost.
“It was quite an endeavor,” said Mic Eby, who served as the
Hoodland Fire District Chief at the time and has spent more than 40 years with
the district.
Eby noted that the district began preparations for the flood
in the days before and watching the weather reports. He added that the
district’s volunteers came out in force, including members of the CERT group,
to help fill and transport sandbags, provide traffic control, perform welfare
checks and more.
“It was amazing how the community came together for that,”
he said.
Jay Wilson, Clackamas County Resilience Coordinator,
recalled that in the aftermath of the flood, a town hall was held, featuring
all the County Commissioners and a large crowd of community members.
“It was quite a heated, passionate conversation,” he said.
“It was a packed house.”
Wilson noted that out of that conversation, among many
others, it became clear that members of the community wanted to “fix” the
rivers in a similar fashion to what the Army Corps of Engineers did following
the 1964 flood.
“That just became the biggest single issue that our office
worked on for the next five years,” he said, adding that they had to shift
those expectations to help people understand that it was not a case of trying
to control the river, but trying to manage the risk involved with the river.
Wilson explained that when people protect a property with
riprap, rock formations placed to prevent erosion, the hydraulic energy bounces
off of it and creates a slingshot, sending the destructive force elsewhere in
the river.
In light of that, efforts have been made to restore the
rivers to their natural floodplains, which takes some pressure off of the
homeowners.
“It doesn’t make the risk go away, it just helps to give it
more stability,” Wilson explained, while also noting that fighting a river will
also harm fish habitat.
Wilson pointed to two big projects on the Mountain
connecting the rivers to their floodplains: one completed in 2016-17 upstream
of Timberline Rim that opened a side channel and installed big lumber erosion
management structures (which has already demonstrated that cutting the flow and
energy out of the water does work) and the removal of levees and opening of
side channels at the confluence of the Sandy and Salmon Rivers.
While the 2011 flood helped to shift in this thinking
process, the recovery from the event was different for the county than anything
it had done before, Wilson noted. In the past, the county mostly dealt with
permits for emergency work on properties impacted by flooding, but Wilson described
the county’s efforts in 2011 as being a community recovery facilitator, doing
“more listening than talking” and trying to find common ground through a
transparent public process.
He noted that the county formed an interdepartmental flood
recovery group that met weekly and then bi-weekly for approximately eight years
to coordinate their efforts primarily on the Sandy River flood issues.
The aftermath of the flood also revealed that the county
needed a scientific analysis of the behavior of the rivers to better understand
what the best approach was for policies and programs. The result was a 2015
channel migration zone study, which Wilson described as the “single biggest
development” resulting from the flood.
“Oregon didn’t have anything like that before,” he said.
“This was the state’s first assessment of that degree.”
The study, which has not yet been formally adopted, came
with hazard and risk maps that identified hundreds of homes on the Mountain
that are currently in imminent threat if a repeat of the 2011 flood took place.
Wilson added that the numbers jump to several thousand homes in imminent threat
if we have another flood similar to 1964.
“That got a lot of people’s eyes open,” he said.
By adopting the hazard and risk maps in that study, the
zoning and land use designations of those areas would change. But Wilson added
that there are complications that have prevented that.
To help share the valuable information, the county has held
a “Flood of Information” event every year (except 2020, thanks to the pandemic)
to provide new information, including a mapping tool that is also available
online (https://www.clackamas.us/dm/channelmigrationzoneresources.html).
Wilson noted that for two years in a row, he met couples at
the event that realized their property was in the channel migration zone, and
therefore at a higher risk, and noted they wouldn’t have purchased the property
if they had known before. But there is no law requiring the disclosure of the
risk during the sale of one of these properties.
Wilson added that people’s perception of risk has changed
since the 2011 flood, noting that at some of the public meetings immediately
following the flood, a lot of people expressed interest in the possibility of a
buyout for their property. But after time, fewer and fewer people were
interested.
“Unfortunately, I think a lot of human nature is to be
reactive,” he said.
Wilson added that the biggest single finding from the 2015
report confirms that the deck is stacked against homes that are right next to
the Sandy and Zigzag Rivers. That’s because these rivers lie in a volcanic
landscape and the homes are built on terraces that are still unstable, and that
doesn’t even account for climate change causing glaciers to retreat and
revealing loose soils.
“It doesn’t take much to mobilize it,” Wilson said.
“Sediment creates erosion patterns. Anything that brings more sediment into the
river, it creates a lot more uncertainty.”
And despite the magnitude of the 2011 flood and the strong
emotions that followed, the past 10 years have been fairly quiet for flood
events, perhaps creating the appearance that the risk has diminished.
“I think people get lulled into complacency despite all the
work we’ve done up there,” Wilson said.
To make matters worse, Wilson added that should the Mountain
community be impacted by wildfires, the loss of vegetation in the forest would
mean a diminished ability to manage runoff from heavier rainfall.
“If we ever have a fire in the upper Sandy basin, you can
bet the jeopardy of the riverside homes will go up as the river reacts to the
new environment,” he said.
Wilson noted that now is the time to rethink our assumptions
about living in a community with such dynamic rivers. Perhaps instead of
property owners taking what they can get after a home is destroyed, programs
that buy out properties in harm’s way could solve the problem before it arises
again, with the potential for bringing more land into the public domain and
providing greater recreational opportunities on the rivers.
“We’re still working to try and find a way to live with the
river, rather than fighting it,” Wilson said.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| AntFarm shifts services to provide COVID-19 relief posted on 01/01/2021
When the COVID-19 pandemic began its rapid spread throughout
Oregon, Two Foxes Singing (Nunpa), the executive director of AntFarm Youth
Services in Sandy, knew the non-profit he had founded would need to provide
greater support to the Mount Hood communities.
“AntFarm has pivoted,” he said. “We’ve expanded our services
to reach our community with what they need.”
The nonprofit was established in 1999 to provide youth and
family services in Sandy with a focus on youth programs that create a “healthy,
purposeful, and compassionate community.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, AntFarm immediately
applied for grants to support community members. “I saw so many youth and
families struggling,” Nunpa said.
AntFarm is now taking a three-prong approach to providing
pandemic relief in the Mount Hood region. The nonprofit has expanded services
to offer rent assistance to Clackamas County residents facing financial
hardships from the economic disruptions, provide economic and moral support for
quarantined individuals, and assist Oregon’s tribal communities and communities
of color that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
AntFarm was also contracted to distribute federal relief
funds from the CARES act for rent relief in Clackamas County. The nonprofit has
successfully distributed $1.5 million in rental assistance since March and has
assisted approximately 300 to 400 families.
The grant covered all of Clackamas County, but AntFarm was
able to offer much of the aid to families in Sandy, Estacada and other Mount Hood
communities.
“By the nature of us being here, our people are getting more
support,” Nunpa said.
The nonprofit is waiting to determine how additional federal
rent assistance will be implemented in 2021.
AntFarm received a community engagement grant from the
Oregon Health Authority to provide “wraparound” support to individuals in
documented isolation and quarantine periods due to COVID-19. The support
includes assistance accessing health care, grocery shopping, housing support,
utilities and telecommunication support, and help connecting to community
resources.
“(The wraparound support) helps people continue to live,”
Nunpa said.
The funding typically covers 14 days of quarantine and is
limited to 30 days for someone who has COVID-19 and still has symptoms. Nunpa
added AntFarm has been receiving approximately five referrals a day for people
in need of assistance due to quarantine.
AntFarm was also awarded a $150,000 health equity grant from
OHA to assist tribal communities and communities of color, who have experienced
higher rates of illness, exposure and loss of business during the pandemic.
“The relationships with these groups… and their knowledge of
the needs of their specific communities are the keys to breaking the hold of
structural and systemic racism and oppression,” said Leann Johnson, director of
OHA’s equity and inclusion division in a recent press release.
AntFarm has been working with the Latinx population in the
region to address health disparity, economic disruptions, food insecurity and
housing, and other areas of need.
“We hired from and of the community,” Nunpa said. “Our new
hires have done an excellent job reaching into the community and doing triage.”
Three of AntFarm’s recent hires are bilingual and have been
working extensively with the Latinx population.
The new year brings new uncertainties regarding funding for
COVID-19 relief programs.
“I’ve been impressed working with the Oregon Health
Authority and how quickly they have been able to secure the funding and
implement the programs,” Nunpa said.
In the meantime, the workers at AntFarm will continue to
abide by the mantra they have adopted over the course of the pandemic, “You’ve
just got to keep showing up.”
More information about AntFarm Youth Services COVID-19
relief programs is available by contacting the organization at
covidrelief@AntFarmyouthservices.com.
For more information on AntFarm, including it's bakery in
Sandy, visit www.antfarmyouthservices.com.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Residents have icy reception to water rate increase posted on 01/01/2021
After a summer of tap water with high levels of iron, Cedar
Glen Estates residents got a chance to voice their displeasure over a proposed
water rate increase and the water quality and service provided by the Salmon
Valley Water Company (SVW). The Public Utility Commission of Oregon (PUC) held
a telephone public comment hearing regarding the SVW’s for a rate increase on
Tuesday, Dec. 8.
Residents of Cedar Glen Estates cited financial and
quality-of-life impacts resulting from the water quality and a proposed base
rate that will be significantly higher than the rate in neighboring communities
as reasons for the PUC to refuse the request.
“I am opposed to the increase in rates for Salmon Valley
Water Co. until they can demonstrate that the water they provide is safe to
drink, and that they will show integrity in managing this vital resource,
including refunding customers who are not able to use the water due to poor
quality, they should not be allowed to charge more to customers,” Welches
resident Rachel Vance said in a public comment submission to the PUC.
SVW is in the process of drilling a new well to accommodate
increased demand in the region and reduce the iron concentration in the water
supply. The construction was slated to be completed by the summer of 2020, but
was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“More than anything the new well is driving the rate
increase,” SVW general manager Michael Bowman said.
The monthly bill of the average residential customer served
by SVW will increase from $24.99 per month to $32.98 in the first year and then
to $44.68 per month in the second year with the new tariffs. After deducting
for operating expenses, the projected revenues will produce a 7.25 percent
return annually for the utility according to the company’s general rate
revision filing with the PUC.
This is a reduction from the 7.6 percent rate of return the
PUC granted SVW when it applied for a rate revision in 2014.
A representative for SVW stated that the complaints stem
from the use of an old reserve well during periods of high demand. The well,
located off of East Routledge Lane, has a high concentration of iron from years
of use and is known locally as the “iron well.”
The stay-home restrictions over the spring and summer of
2020 created the highest demands in the utility’s history with usage up 30 to
35 percent. This resulted in SVW incorporating water from the iron well into
their main supply more frequently than in past years.
“We’re fully aware (the iron concentration) causes problems
for our customers and we feel we have a very good solution with the new well,”
Bowman said. “We empathize with any difficulty our customers have faced. We
have a good level of confidence that we’ll have the issue resolved going
forward.”
Iron is labeled a secondary contaminant by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). Secondary contaminants are not considered a risk to
human health. The EPA has established non-enforceable “secondary maximum
contaminant levels” as guidelines to assist public water systems in managing
their drinking water for aesthetic considerations, such as taste, color and
odor.
Bowman stated that the SVW complies with the recommended
guidelines and tests regularly to assure the iron content remains below the
three parts-per-million standard.
The target date for the completion of the new well is April
1. It will replace the iron well in meeting increased demand during peak summer
use.
“Utilities are only allowed to recover costs that are
reasonably and prudently incurred, and Oregon law requires that rates must be
just and reasonable. The profit margin that a company is entitled to earn is
based on a number of factors including the national economy and the level of
business risk when compared to similar companies. The Commission employs a team
of economists who regularly conduct these analyses to ensure that the public
interest is represented,” the PUC noted in an email.
“Public comment is certainly an important part of our
process,” said Kandi Young, PUC public information officer. “I would strongly
encourage community members to reach out with issues. It’s important for the
commission to hear their input."
The Oregon Public Utility Commission can be reached by phone
at 503-373-7394 or by email at puc.publiccomments@state.or.us.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Mountain community rises up to assist injured biker posted on 01/01/2021
Tim Cornish has biked to work most every day for the past 26
years. But the bicycle enthusiast hit a rough spot at the end of September when
the seat post on his bike broke, causing Cornish to fall and break his arm at
his elbow.
And while Cornish doesn’t have a car, he does have some
supportive friends in the community, including Jolynne Milone, owner of Koya
Kitchen, who helped raise money for Cornish and organized a meal train effort
to bring food to him, and George Wilson, owner of Mt. Hood Bicycle, who gave
Cornish a new bike at a celebration on Friday, Dec. 4.
“It was quite a surprise,” Cornish said. “It was the last
thing I expected.”
Wilson has known Cornish for almost 20 years and noted he is
not an extravagant person and that the bike he had didn’t fit him properly.
Wilson added that the post likely snapped because Cornish is so tall and the
post was past the minimum insertion point.
Cornish’s new bike, a Surly “Big Dummy,” is a cargo bike
with a longer wheelbase that will be a better fit.
“He just needed something that he could depend on,” Wilson
said. “We’re a small community here and we all have to take care of each other.
If more people are prone to helping, we’d be much better off. I’m just doing my
part.”
Milone noted that her efforts were made easy because so many
people in the community know him, adding that while she went around to area
businesses asking for prize donations for a raffle, she also had people drop by
her restaurant just to donate money.
“Tim is so sweet, he’s such a nice person,” she said. “It
was really easy to ask for him.”
Cornish, who is still recovering from his injury,
appreciated all the efforts involved to help him in his time of need.
“I’m very thankful to George and looking very forward to
when I’ll be able to ride the new bike,” he noted. “I’m also very thankful to
Jolynne for organizing the donations of needed food and money during my
recovery. I’m also very grateful to everyone at Koya Kitchen and all those who
donated prizes or bought tickets for the raffle.”
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| 10 Years Ago: A new mayor and watershed winners posted on 01/01/2021
Malone passes the torch
After serving for eight terms as Sandy's mayor, Linda Malone
brought down her gavel for the final time at the Dec. 20, 2010 Sandy City
Council meeting, and folks turned out in droves to wish the mayor well. Malone
was narrowly defeated at the polls in the November 2010 election, with Bill
King elected as the new mayor.
Under the leadership of Malone, many environmental
protection regulations were adopted including a stream and wetland protection
ordinance, the Dark Sky ordinance, six new neighborhood parks were developed
and the list went on. Malone was known for welcoming differences of opinion and
for council to share their views.
"As small as Sandy is, a group of people working
together can make a difference," Malone said.
Then Sandy City Manager Scott Lazenby called her tenure
"the Malone Era." Altruistic to the end, Malone finished by wishing
King well.
"I hope Bill will have as wonderful an experience as I
had," she said.
Firefighters train at "Burn-to-Learn"
Hoodland firefighters are often called out to respond to
fires in weather conditions which can be extremely hazardous on the Mountain,
and when there is snow and ice on the ground, downed trees and the temperatures
dip, water from hoses can turn into ice and access to buildings can be a
serious impediment for firefighters who need to climb ladders and tote hoses for
hundreds of feet.
Such was the case when a fire broke out at the Collins Lake
condos in Government Camp years before, so when a "burn-to-learn"
opportunity arose in December 2010, with a chance to train in the snow with
live fire, then Hoodland Fire Chief Mic Eby jumped at the chance.
A "burn-to-learn" training experience is when a
homeowner agrees to burn their old house or cabin already slated for
demolition, and it's a win for both parties, as firefighters can train with a
live fire under controlled conditions and the homeowner has the majority of
their demolition finished. After a "burn-to-learn," a homeowner can
clean up and be ready to build a new home or chalet, while the firefighters are
much more prepared for the next emergency.
Watershed Councils pick up Support Grants
The Clackamas County Water Conservation District awarded
$35,000 in support grants to several watershed councils in Clackamas County,
and among the winners was the Sandy River Basin Watershed Council.
"Watershed councils are key partners in conserving
natural resources," District Manager Tom Salzer said.
"We have funding and deep expertise in proven,
practical conservation practices. Councils have a unique ability to engage
people across a watershed," he added. "Together, we accomplish far
more than either of us could do alone."
In Other News...
The Mt Hood Cultural Center & Museum's volunteer
appreciation luncheon saw the Volunteer of the Year Award given to July
Gilsdorf, the Hoodland Women's Club was busy gearing up for its second annual
crab feed, Sandy High School received the green light to move forward with
construction after a LUBA appeal was denied and The Mountain Times published
the top ten stories of the year for 2010, with the first place story going to
the revolving door and dizzying transition of multiple principals at the
Welches School.
By Frances Berteau/MT |
| Volcanic monitoring stations installed on Mount Hood posted on 01/01/2021
(MT) – Between Sept. 29 and Oct. 2, the United States
Geological Survey (USGS) Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO), in cooperation
with the U.S. Forest Service and Mount Hood National Forest, installed three
new volcano monitoring stations on the flanks of Mount Hood. The three stations
enhance the existing seismic, GPS and volcanic gas monitoring network that is
currently in operation around Mount Hood.
Each station includes seismic and GPS instruments, including
a broadband seismometer that detects the tiny earthquakes, smaller than
Magnitude (M) 1.0 and not felt by humans, caused when magma, gas or fluids move
beneath the volcano. The GPS equipment measures subtle ground deformation of
the volcano in response to magma entering or leaving the magma reservoir
several miles below the summit.
Mount Hood has erupted repeatedly for hundreds of thousands
of years, but its most recent eruption series was from 1781 to 1793, just
before the arrival of Lewis and Clark in 1805. While Mount Hood is not
currently erupting, it produces frequent earthquakes and earthquake swarms, and
steam and volcanic gases are emitted in the area around Crater Rock near the
volcano’s summit.
Because of the significant hazards the volcano poses to
nearby communities and infrastructure as well as to aviation, USGS researchers
designated Mount Hood as a very high threat volcano in an updated 2018 National
Volcanic Threat Assessment. Factors in this included its proximity to nearby
communities and popular recreation areas, major highways and potential to
impact airspace affecting the Portland metropolitan area during unrest or
eruption.
Data from these unoccupied, remote monitoring stations are
transmitted in real-time data to the Cascades Volcano Observatory and its
monitoring partner, the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN). View data
from these new stations on the CVO webpage,
https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mount-hood/monitoring (all monitoring data
streams), or at https://pnsn.org/volcanoes/mount-hood (earthquakes only).
Mount Hood seismicity is monitored by the PNSN and CVO via a
regional network that includes five seismic stations within 12 miles of the
volcano.
Robust monitoring networks are a key tool for mitigating volcano
hazards that will affect people and property. Volcanoes can awaken rapidly — in
just days to weeks — and initial precursors to that awakening can be subtle,
including small earthquakes, small ground movements and minor changes in gas
chemistry.
The most effective volcano monitoring network requires that
instruments be installed in multiple locations on the volcano’s flanks well
before unrest begins to catch these early changes.
Mount Hood is one of the most seismically active volcanoes
in the Washington and Oregon Cascades, and the most seismically active volcano
in Oregon. In an average month, up to two earthquakes are located by the
Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) within three miles of the summit.
Most Hood earthquakes don't actually occur directly beneath
the volcano's summit, but instead in one of several clusters located two to
three kilometers to the west, southwest and southeast of the summit.
The largest earthquake recorded in the vicinity of Mount
Hood was a M 4.5 in 2002 that was widely felt and followed by a M 3.8
aftershock four hours later. Seismic events greater than M 3.0 also occurred in
1989, 1990, 1996 and 2010. Earthquakes in these clusters tend to occur in
swarms (defined as three or more located earthquakes in a single day) or
"mainshock- aftershock" sequences.
Scientists believe that earthquakes in the clusters south of
the summit occur on tectonic faults and aren't directly related to volcanic
processes occurring beneath Mount Hood. The largest earthquake recorded beneath
the summit was a M 3.5 in 1989 that was felt. In contrast to the southerly
clusters, earthquakes directly beneath the summit rarely occur in swarms.
|
| County approves short-term rental regulations posted on 01/01/2021
(MT) – The Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners
(BCC) approved changes to the Zoning and Development Ordinance to allow for
short-term rentals (STRs) in unincorporated Clackamas County at a Dec. 17, 2020
meeting.
The changes include a registration program and regulations
for STRs and are scheduled to go into effect on July 1.
STR regulations will include provisions for short-term
rental owners to register with the county every two years and pay a fee to help
cover the costs of administration and enforcement.
The exact fee amount will be approved by BCC this spring,
but it has been estimated to be in the range of $800 to $900 for each two-year
registration.
The regulations will also limit overnight occupancy to two
people per sleeping area plus four additional people (not to exceed 15 people
regardless of the number of sleeping areas), require one off-street parking
spot for every two sleeping areas, posted quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
(in accordance with current county ordinance) and other building and safety
requirements.
Enforcement of the regulations, which only apply outside of
city limits in the unincorporated areas of the county, will be carried out by
either the Sheriff’s Office or Code Enforcement, depending on the issue.
|
| Jim Price tabbed as the next Fire Chief posted on 12/01/2020
The board of directors of the Hoodland Fire District (HFD)
selected James Price as the next Fire Chief following interviews with the final
three candidates on Monday, Nov. 16. A Meet and Greet event for the three
candidates to be introduced to the public on Sunday, Nov. 15 was cancelled due
to the rising number of coronavirus cases.
Price comes to HFD from the Rogue River Fire District, where
he was the Fire Chief for the past six and a half years.
“I’m just super excited for the opportunity,” Price said. “My
door is always open to the community.”
Price grew up in Battleground, Wash. and his father and an
uncle served as firefighters in Portland. He noted that he wasn’t initially
interested in following in their footsteps, but after volunteering for the Clark
County Fire District, he discovered he enjoyed it.
Price went on to serve with the Baker City Fire Department
as a Firefighter/Paramedic before taking the helm at Rogue River.
In his earlier years, Price recalled skiing at SkiBowl and
driving by the HFD station while thinking it might be a good place to work. He
enjoys hiking, fishing, bow hunting and reading.
Price added that he has heard about the “great community” on
the Mountain and good things about the people involved with the HFD.
Price will take over as the HFD grapples with issues brought
to light by an organizational assessment performed by the Special Districts
Association of Oregon, in which it offered 64 recommendations dealing with
everything from governance and personnel management to finances and the
training and safety program.
He noted that he sees it as a good opportunity to “meet
those challenges.”
Price is tentatively set to start on the job on Monday, Jan.
4, 2021.
Shirley Dueber, president of the HFD board of directors,
noted that the final three candidates were all very qualified to take on the
challenges of the job.
“If we could have, we would have hired all three of them,”
Dueber said. “Every one of them would have fit in somewhere where we needed
them in the department. It was a hard choice.”
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Contributed photo.
Judi Graeper had originally planned to have a book
celebrating the history of Rhododendron published for the community’s
centennial celebration in August. But in the age of COVID-19, not to mention
how life can also throw a few curveballs, neither the book nor the celebration
made the target date.
“Even if August happened, the book wasn’t going to be
ready,” Graeper said.
Now, Graeper expects the book, which will be published by
Arcadia Publishing, to be finished in March, but still hopes for a little
assistance in gathering more photos to be included. The pandemic has forced
area museums to close, making finding and accessing historical photos
incredibly challenging.
Graeper noted that she has collected a good number of photos
from people who come from families who lived or visited in Rhododendron in the
past, but a consistent theme keeps coming up.
“Part of the problem is, many of them say, ‘We didn’t have a
camera, so we have no pictures,” she said.
Graeper added that her focus now is to find more photos of
businesses from earlier in Rhododendron’s history, including the Begonia
Garden, Gadwood’s Market, Barlow Road Furniture Company and the liquor store.
The end result will be a book featuring up to 270 photos and
more than 100 pages long, similar to ones on the Mount Hood National Forest and
Timberline Lodge also published by Arcadia.
Chapters in the book, which will include a large number of
photos with detailed captions, will feature aspects of Rhododendron’s history,
including businesses, landmarks such as Tollgate 5, notable moments like the
1964 flood, and significant people, such as the last tollgate keeper, Arlie
Mitchell, and the Native Americans who utilized the area long before settlers
arrived.
Graeper noted that photos need to be high resolution and
that she cannot use any photos from newspapers, unless an original photo can be
obtained.
The book will tentatively be available next summer when the
Rhododendron Community Planning Organization hopes to celebrate the centennial
plus one year.
Copies are also expected to be available at the Mount Hood
Cultural Center and Museum, the Sandy Historical Society Museum and elsewhere
in the community.
If you have historical photos of the community of
Rhododendron that can be used for the book, please email Judi Graeper at
jgraeps@comcast.net.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Genetic breakthrough reignites Mount Hood cold case posted on 12/01/2020
Groundbreaking genetic analysis and genealogical research
identified skeletal remains found on Mount Hood in 1986 as a young Oregon woman
who was never reported missing despite her disappearance and death in the
mid-seventies, announced state forensic officials in late October.
Now with a positive identity to the cold case, the Clackamas
County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is asking for public assistance determining the
cause of death of 19-year-old Wanda Ann Herr more than four decades ago.
“She was truly a mystery. She wasn’t on anybody’s radar,”
said Dr. Nici Vance, State Forensic Anthropologist with the Oregon State
Police. “After years of working on the missing persons cases (in the state) you
know all the names. We had never heard this girl’s name before.”
The search began with a partial skull, a single tooth and
bone fragments discovered by US Forest Service Workers on Still Creek Road near
Government Camp in 1986.
At the time, an Oregon State Police forensic examiner
determined the remains belonged to a woman in her twenties or a small man and
had likely been in the woods for ten years. The year of death was established
as approximately 1976.
Little else could be determined about the identity of the
person, and the case remained dormant for decades.
In 2008 Dr. Vance had the partial skull sent to the
University of North Texas for DNA analysis. The results concluded the skull
belonged to a woman in her late teens or early twenties.
DNA samples gathered from the skull fragment was uploaded
into a national forensic DNA database operated by the FBI, and the case was
entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). The
DNA yielded no matches and the case remained open.
In January 2019, the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office
received a grant to perform a new method of intensive DNA analysis and forensic
genetic genealogy on more than 100 sets of unidentified human skeletal remains
in the state.
This new process became famous in 2018 when it was used to
track down and apprehend the Golden State Killer.
The Government Camp skull was among the first group of DNA
samples sent out to Parabon Nanolabs in December 2019.
The lab’s genetic analysis revealed the skull belonged to a
“female of Northern European descent with fair skin, hazel/brown eyes, brown
hair, and some freckles,” said county officials.
This breakthrough, combined with genealogical research
utilizing the GEDmatch website, produced the first positive identification from
the skull: Wanda Ann Herr, born in 1957.
“I had worked with the company. I knew what they were
capable of,” Dr. Vance said. “They garnered some great results.”
Little information about Wanda is currently known.
Investigators contacted her surviving sisters, and with their cooperation,
conducted further DNA testing to confirm her identity.
According to her sisters, Wanda was raised apart from her
family and was possibly living in a group home in Gresham at the time of her
disappearance.
Investigators stated that they believe she was a “chronic
runaway” based on interviews. There are no records of her as a runaway or
missing person according to county officials.
“She came from kind of a dysfunctional family back in the
day,” said Detective Mary Nunn of the CCSO Homicide & Violent Crimes Unit.
“A lot of people are calling who knew her as a child. We’re
looking for people who knew her from 1976 when she was 19, people from the
group home, someone who knows who she hung out with,” Detective Nunn said.
Investigators stated that Wanda had no DMV record, bank
account and that she is not mentioned in any police report.
Detectives urge anyone who knew Wanda Ann Herr, her
associates or her whereabouts in the 1970s to contact the CCSO Tip Line at
503-723-4949 or online at https://www.clackamas.us/sheriff/tip. Please
reference CCSO Case # 86-025724.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Local chapter of TIP NW offers comfort after tragedies posted on 12/01/2020
June Vining, Executive Director of Trauma Intervention
Program NW (TIP NW), was a founding volunteer of the organization, a group of
specially trained citizen volunteers who provide emotional aid and practical
support and resources to victims of traumatic events and their families in the
first few hours following a tragedy. When she started, the group responded to
up to a dozen phone calls per month. Now, they average 170 calls per month,
including one Vining responded to the night before talking to The Mountain
Times, when a young woman lost her fiancé.
“Showing up (on the worst day of their life) is what’s most
important,” Vining said. “We can’t fix what bad thing has happened. We’re
grateful they weren’t alone. That’s really an honor and a privilege.”
TIP NW coverage area includes all or parts of Multnomah,
Clackamas, Clark, Skamania and Washington Counties. While they have always
responded to calls from the Mountain community, 18 months ago they brought on
five volunteers in and around Hoodland, decreasing the amount of time it takes
for somebody to arrive on the scene.
“Having people right in their area that understand the
community and the resources right there has been huge,” Vining said. “The fact
that we can put people there right away is huge.”
“We’re proud and humbled to volunteer in our community, and
grateful for the opportunities to serve others,” wrote the members of the
Hoodland group, Stephanie Barber, Sally Chester, Feleicia Forston, Nora Gambee
and Debra Sinz, in an email to The Mountain Times. “We joined TIP for the same
reasons we joined Hoodland Fire, to extend our reach and support. With TIP we
are able to go on calls for Hoodland and Sandy Fire Districts, and on-call 24/7/365.”
The volunteers respond to all the “media worthy” calls, she
noted, including being a part of the response to the wildfires earlier this
year, but many more natural deaths and other calls that never make the news,
including drug overdoses, car accidents, violent crimes, fires and people who
are distraught and seeking immediate support. Responders arrive with a manual,
helping guide people to bereavement resources, all the phone numbers that may
be needed and various forms.
“We’ve become kind of experts on what I refer to as the
death system, what happens next,” Vining said.
Of course, the volunteers are also there to help people
process what has happened, helping families to grieve and understand.
“Sometimes you don’t have to say anything,” Vining said.
“Just be here.”
TIP NW currently has 182 active volunteers, with a staff of
four full time employees.
Vining, who noted that the group would welcome more
volunteers or donations, recalled first getting involved as a stay-at-home mom
who just had her third child. She saw an article about the program and how the
training would be offered in Portland, so she told her husband, a homicide
detective, that he should take it and he thought she should volunteer.
Now, Vining is a master trainer and certifies trainers
across the country.
She added that responding to calls has changed a lot in the
nearly three decades since she began: back then cars didn’t have GPS, so they
used the same spiral-bound map book that
firefighters and police officers also used and they also had to carry quarters
and know the locations of payphones in the area.
“Things have changed a lot,” Vining said. “We’re doing a
lot, quiet (and) behind the scene. Hopefully helping the community stay healthy
and appreciated. What we do puts a human touch on what’s become a high-tech
world.”
For more information on TIP NW, or to learn how to volunteer
or donate, visit www.tipnw.org.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Anna Williams holds off Jeff Helfrich for House District 52 seat posted on 12/01/2020
Anna Williams pulled off a victory and earned a second term
for the House District 52 (HD52) seat by defeating Jeff Helfrich in the
November election. Results posted by the Oregon Secretary of State on Wednesday,
Nov. 25 showed Williams with 19,209 votes (48.73 percent) to Helfrich’s 19,125
votes (48.52 percent), a margin of just 84 votes.
“It was a long two weeks while we waited on the final
results, but I’m thrilled that the election came out in my favor,” Williams
wrote in an email to The Mountain Times. “In Clackamas County, there was a
strong conservative turnout that unseated Democratic county commissioners and
city councilors throughout my district and beyond. Relative to those other
races, I’m happy with how mine turned out even if I’d have preferred a wider
margin of victory.”
HD52 covers parts of Multnomah, Hood River and Clackamas
Counties, with Williams taking the most votes in Hood River County while
Helfrich received more votes in the other two. In Clackamas County, 10,613
votes were cast for Helfrich while Williams received 7,538.
“I want to take this time to thank each and every one of you
for your time and effort you put towards my campaign,” Helfrich wrote in an
email to The Mountain Times. “Your contribution has meant the world to me and
my family. Throughout the last few years, we've all seen firsthand how politics
has pulled our communities apart. Now is the time to come together.”
Helfrich added that he did not see the victory by Williams
as a “mandate to do more of the same in Salem.”
“My hope is we can find a new path forward for our state
where decisions are made for the greater good of the people in our communities,
not for the political parties that politicians represent or the special
interests that support them,” he wrote. “Let's use this season to come together
and remember what unites us as a state and a nation is far greater than what
divides us.”
Williams noted that in her first term she made “significant
efforts” to listen to people throughout the district, including those from
across party lines.
“Even though most of them probably continued to oppose me
this year, the fact that I eked out a victory while so many other Clackamas
County Democrats were unseated leads me to believe that at least some of those
conservative voters appreciated my willingness to hear them out, and my
attempts to make sure they felt represented in the legislature,” Williams
wrote. “Above all else, though, I’m thrilled with the high turnout in our district,
and I’m grateful for the hard work that went into making sure everyone who
submitted a ballot had their vote counted – including some people who were
given the chance to cure ballots with signature errors. Even though counting
every vote over the course of the weeks following Election Day made the race
much closer than it looked on November 3rd, it’s a testament to our democratic
values that everyone’s voice was heard.”
Elsewhere in Clackamas County, Mark Shull defeated Ken
Humberston for Position 4 on the Board of County Commissioners by a vote of
93,923 to 90,324. The voters of Sandy reelected Mayor Stan Pulliam, who ran
unopposed, and elected Richard Sheldon for Position 3 on the city council,
Kathleen Walker for Position 4 on the council and Don Hokanson for Position 6
on the council.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| New doc at Sandy Rose Natural Health posted on 12/01/2020
Rose Natural Health expanded its’ healthcare practice in
November with the addition of a second physician, Dr. Kurt Beil.
Dr. Beil joins the practice’s founder Dr. Elizabeth Busetto
in offering holistic, natural healthcare to the residents of Sandy and the
Mount Hood communities.
“I work extensively with people with chronic diseases:
endocrine, digestive, thyroid issues, as well as mental health, stress and
joint and muscle pain,” Dr. Beil said.
Dr. Beil is a naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist
who has been practicing medicine since 2006. He recently returned to Oregon at
the beginning of 2020 after practicing in New York for five years and currently
resides in Welches.
As a fully trained and licensed physician in Oregon, Dr.
Beil treats a range of health conditions and offers diagnostic and laboratory
testing services to patients as well as natural treatment options.
“In my new role at the practice I’ll provide a focus more on
men’s health issues,” Beil added, explaining Dr. Busetto offers an array of
prenatal and young family services.
Dr. Beil studied at the National College of Naturopathic
Medicine (NCNM) in Portland, where he received Naturopathic (ND) and Classical
Chinese Medicine (MSOM) degrees. He obtained a Master's of Public Health (MPH)
degree from the Oregon Master of Public Health program before returning to his
alma mater to teach and conduct research as a faculty member.
Dr. Beil focused his research on the effects of natural and
built environments on physical and mental health. During his tenure in Portland
he worked with community nonprofits to promote the parks, trails and natural
areas of the metropolitan region as a public health resource.
The two doctors originally met in school, started dating and
are now working together.
“We’re life partners, romantic partners,” Dr. Beil said,
noting the pair had recently gone hiking in the Columbia River Gorge at the
site of their first date. “We have our life together here in the region.”
Rose Natural Health is located at 38953 Pioneer Blvd. in
Sandy and offers services Monday through Friday by appointment only. The office
can be reached by phone at (503) 954-3676. More information about the services
provided as well as scheduling appointments for new patients can be found
online at www.rosenaturalhealth.com.
Rose Natural Health accepts both Moda Health and Blue Cross
Blue Shield health insurance.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| County on board with Governor's approach to COVID-19 posted on 12/01/2020
(MT) – In a press release dated Nov. 25, Clackamas County
noted it will comply with Governor Kate Brown’s announcement of a more
risk-driven approach to reduce the spread of COVID-19 across Oregon. The
Governor’s announced metrics now directly tie allowed activities to clear
measures of risk – based on COVID-19
case data – helping businesses and the county plan ahead for reopening.
“It has been a long year for Clackamas County residents with
COVID-19 and the recent wildfires. Thank you to everyone for your patience and
continuing efforts to stay safe,” said Gary Schmidt, Clackamas County
Administrator. “Most Clackamas County buildings will remain open to the public
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, as has been the case for the
past several months. Please check the
county website to confirm office hours before visiting and consider setting up
an appointment before visiting and using services through the telephone, email,
webpages or other electronic means.”
Using state data available as of Wednesday, Nov. 25, a total
of 5,574 Clackamas County residents have contracted COVID-19 this year; 77
county residents have died from the disease. County health officials warn the
recent large weekly increases in new presumed cases is alarming.
“To give some perspective, this summer, Clackamas County
averaged 100-150 positive COVID-19 tests per week. In October, it jumped to 200
per week. Last week – in just one week – we hit 811 cases,” said Philip
Mason-Joyner, Clackamas County Public Health Director. “That means we have more
than tripled our number of county residents infected with COVID-19 in just a
few weeks.”
The data-driven framework take effect Thursday Dec. 3. The
risk metrics mirror current school metrics by monitoring COVID-19 case rates
(the number of cases per 100,000 population in large counties such as
Clackamas) and percentage of test positivity.
The Oregon Health Authority will use the latest data to
update the metrics every week; since the metrics use the latest two weeks of
data, counties can potentially move between risk categories – and change
limitations on activities – every two weeks. The latest available data on these
metrics shows Clackamas County would be in the “Extreme risk” category.
Meanwhile, the county joined other counties in Oregon in
taking a “two-week pause” to fight COVID-19 starting Wednesday, Nov. 11. The
two-week pause limited social interaction, in an effort to curb spiking
COVID-19 infection rates.
“We realize that the news of a two-week pause is something
Clackamas County residents did not want to hear,” said Clackamas County Chair
Jim Bernard in a press release. “We understand this is disappointing. But it’s
necessary.”
Governor Brown ordered the two-week pause in counties with a
case rate above 200 per 100,000 people over a two-week period.
“Please don’t wait to do your part to slow the spread of
COVID-19,” said Clackamas County Public Health Officer Doctor Sarah Present in
a press release. “We understand people miss seeing their loved ones, and it’s
more challenging to wear a face covering and distance when we are with people
we trust. However, we are not going to contact trace or test our way out of
this pandemic. The change will come when individual behavior changes
collectively – that's in our control.”
Most people who contract COVID-19 get it from family and
friends who are increasingly attending indoor social gatherings and aren’t
using face coverings. Public health officials find that most positive COVID-19
cases in Clackamas County are from social gatherings large and small. Officials
said a two-week pause should help slow the spread of the virus before maxing
out hospital capacity, putting a strain on PPE supply chains and requiring
further lockdown. |
|  Contributed photo.
More than fifty volunteers put on warm layers and protective
masks to help clean up Summit Ski area and Government Camp on Saturday, Oct.
24, despite steady snow and social distancing restrictions.
The event was part of the Mount Hood Institute’s (MHI) second
annual Mt. Hood Cleanup. The cleanup was organized with assistance from the
Sandy River Watershed Council and SOLVE.
The nonprofits faced a series of scheduling challenges this
year that resulted in the event being rescheduled twice and almost being rescheduled
for a third time.
“First it was COVID, then it was the fires. We almost
rescheduled today because of the snow,” said MHI secretary Karly Osten. “We had
fifty people show up so we’re pretty tickled.”
The volunteers spread out at safe distances throughout eight
zones encompassing the ski area and the roadsides of Government Camp filling
bags provided by SOLVE with litter in an effort to prevent waste from entering
the Sandy River watershed.
The cleanup has been organized for the past twelve years by
Jocelyn Gary, a local teacher and outdoor enthusiast. The past two years have
been organized through her role as director of the MHI, a nonprofit dedicated
to promoting sustainable recreation in the Mount Hood National Forest that Gary
co-founded in 2019 with Ben Comfort and Brett Wesson.
This year’s cleanup was slated to include Trillium Lake,
Timberline Lodge and Mount Hood Meadows as part of the All Mountain Cleanup on
Sept. 19. The original event was cancelled due to the fires in Mount Hood
National Forest.
“It was really hard this year trying to get everything
rescheduled … with the fires. Once (Hwy.) 26 was reopened and we got approval
from the ski area we made it happen,” said Gary. “Thankfully people are so
hungry to get out and help because of COVID.”
The cleanup covered an area in the headwaters for the Sandy
River, a stronghold considered critical for endangered salmon populations.
“Anything we can keep out of the watershed in terms of human
garbage is beneficial,” said Deputy Director of the Sandy River Watershed
Council (SRWC) Sara Ennis.
Ennis stated a main concern for the health of the watershed
is plastic waste. Plastic slowly breaks down into microplastics which then
bioaccumulate in species throughout the ecosystem.
“Every new wave of research makes (microplastic’s) impact
seem even worse,” Ennis said.
SRWC has been involved with the annual cleanup event for the
past nine years.
Gary noted MHI was happy with the turnout for this year’s
event and hope to organize a cleanup at Ramona Falls once the trails have been
cleared of downed trees from the Labor Day windstorm.
More information on the Mount Hood Institute and future
cleaning events is available online at https://www.mthoodinstitute.org.
Information on volunteering with the Sandy River Watershed council in available
at https://sandyriver.org.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Traditions face challenges as pandemic enters holiday season posted on 11/01/2020
Community efforts to help those in need during the holiday
season have had to adjust due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, resulting in
changes to how they are done or, in the case of the annual Hoodland Community
Thanksgiving Dinner, being cancelled altogether.
Mark Grove, who has been involved in the dinner for 15
years, noted it has happened for nearly 30 years and he has never heard of it
being cancelled before. It is held at Camp Arrah Wanna and serves approximately
300 people, but the camp is shut down, making the decision less challenging.
“It was disheartening, but easy to make,” Grove said. “Every
angle we looked at it, it just seemed like a bad idea to do it.”
Grove noted that the dinner doesn’t just offer food, but
fellowship for those who participate, while adding that many of the people
served come from a population that has a high vulnerability to COVID-19.
He added that while they are not doing the dinner this year,
organizers are grateful to the community for all their continued support.
“Thank you for everything that everyone has provided all
these years,” Grove said.
For Thanksgiving, Mountain community members who need a full
Thanksgiving dinner meal box, from appetizers to dessert, can reach out to the
Sandy Action Community Center at sandyactioncenter.com or 503-668-4746.
Suburban Auto Group in Sandy has teamed up with the center and the Estacada
Area Food Bank to help fund the boxes, including matching donations up to
$5,000 through Monday, Nov. 9 via a Go Fund Me effort. For more information,
visit www.suburbanautogroup.com.
Erinn Sowle, President of Suburban Auto Group, told The
Mountain Times in late October that they had almost already surpassed the goal.
“I’m really thrilled at the response,” she said.
And efforts are already underway to continue the annual
Christmas Basket program, offering a food basket and a gift for children ages
18 and under to those in need within the Welches Schools boundaries. The
program started taking sign-ups last month, with forms available at various
local businesses, including Smoke on the Mountain, the Hoodland branch of the
Clackamas County Bank, Mt. Hood Cannabis, the Welches Liquor Store, Charlie’s
Mountain View, Coffee House 26 and Welches Mountain Building Supply.
Applications for the program are due by 2 p.m. Friday, Dec.
4.
In a typical year, people would go and pick up boxes and
gifts, but as organizer Carol Norgard explained, this year’s program will
include deliveries on Friday, Dec. 18 or Saturday, Dec. 19 as the only option.
An adult with an ID must be present for the delivery, while non-deliverable
boxes will be given to local food pantries.
Norgard said she expected numbers to increase due to the
challenges people are facing. In recent years, the program has helped up to 100
local families, but organizers are anticipating up to 120 this year.
Community members can also help the program by giving gifts
at giving trees at various local businesses, including Smoke on the Mountain,
Clackamas County Bank, Mt. Hood Cannabis, Charie’s Mountain View, Coffee House
26 and Welches Mountain Building Supply. Norgard added that they will need more
volunteers to help with the deliveries, which will be done by a pair of
volunteers. Delivery volunteers should be able to lift up to 60 pounds and know
their way around the Mountain community.
Norgard added that putting everything together will be a
longer endeavor this year, as they will be limited by the number of people who
can sort through food and gifts at the Welches Lions Club building.
“We can’t have too many people in the building at once while
we’re sorting,” she said.
The Lions Club has also shifted gears to support the program
with their annual Toy Drive Dinner, which will be take-out only, on Saturday,
Nov. 5.
Meanwhile, the Mountain’s community outreach program,
Neighborhood Missions, just marked the two-year anniversary of holding a free
market once a month.
Program facilitator Steve Carlson noted the market, which is
open from 9-10 a.m. at the Hoodland Senior Center (65000 E. Hwy. 26 in
Welches), will continue as normal through the winter months. To maintain social
distancing, boxes will be put in people’s cars for them.
Carlson added that the turnout for the market has been
consistent in recent months, with an average of approximately 75 households
served. He noted that the food program is supported by the Oregon Food Bank.
Neighborhood Missions also offers other assistance for
housing costs, prescriptions and gas, plus food boxes in between the dates of
each monthly food market. The organization will not hold its annual Harvest
Festival this year due to the pandemic, but Carlson noted they have received
donations that have recouped some of the funding the event would have provided.
“The good thing is so many people have been so generous in
sending in monetary contributions,” he said. “That has been a relief for us.”
Monetary contributions can be sent to Neighborhood Missions,
PO Box 594, Brightwood, OR 97011.
For more information on Neighborhood Missions, call
503-622-9213 or email neighborhoodmissions1@gmail.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| County to finalize short term rental regulations by 2021 posted on 11/01/2020
The Clackamas Board of County Commissioners (BCC) renewed
efforts to complete the long-delayed short-term/vacation rental (STR)
regulations for unincorporated Clackamas County at a Oct. 13 policy session.
The BCC announced a series of upcoming public hearings on
the proposed county code amendments in November and December. The BCC will vote
on the matter before the end of 2020, with any new regulations going into
effect on July 1, 2021.
“It’s an aggressive schedule because (the BCC) has
prioritized this and has instructed staff to do whatever we can to get it done
by the end of 2020,” said Clackamas County Planning Director Jennifer Hughes
during the policy session.
The regulations were first drafted in 2019 following
extensive public polling in the mountain communities.
“This draft is really the result of over a year of work, of
research and public outreach,” said Martha Fritzie, the county’s principal
planner.
The public review process of the draft has been delayed
since March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and wildfires in the county.
Fritzie stated the county defines a STR as “a dwelling unit,
or portion of a dwelling unit, or a guest house that is rented to any person or
entity for lodging or residential purposes, for a period of up to 30
consecutive nights.”
The proposed code amendments will require STR owners to
register rentals with the county finance department every two years and pay an
estimated $800-900 fee to cover the costs of administration and enforcement.
The regulations will establish rules regarding maximum occupancy, fire and
safety requirements, off-street parking, garbage pick-up and quiet hours for
the rental properties.
“These regulations will be enforced by the Sheriff’s
Department or Code Enforcement, depending on the issue,” Fritzie said.
The new regulatory program will be created to be “full cost
recovery” and fund its operation from the predicted STR registration fees. The
program will create two full time employee positions with the county, one for
the administration of the program and the other to handle additional code enforcement.
Readings of the draft establishing the new registration
program and regulations in the county code will be held at the 10 a.m.,
Thursday, Nov. 5 and the 10 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 19 business meetings.
Public hearings on amending the county’s Zoning &
Development Ordinance (ZDO) will be held at a Planning Commission meeting at
6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23 and during a BCC Land Use Hearing at 9:30 a.m.,
Wednesday, Dec. 9.
The public are invited to comment in writing or at any of
the hearings. All of the hearings will be held on Zoom due to the ongoing
pandemic.
The BCC is scheduled to take action on the proposed code
amendments at its regular business meeting on Thursday, Dec. 17.
Community members who not able to attend a hearing are
welcome to submit their comments before the hearings to Principal Planner
Martha Fritzie at mfritzie@clackamas.us or by US Mail to Planning & Zoning,
Development Services Building, 150 Beavercreek Road, Oregon City, OR 97045.
The draft regulations and details of upcoming public
hearings are available at www.clackamas.us/planning/str. Information on how to
connect to meetings and hearings on Zoom will be posted one week before each
event.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| 'Meet and greet' scheduled for Fire Chief candidates posted on 11/01/2020
Nine applicants submitted materials to the Special Districts
Association of Oregon (SDAO) by the deadline of Friday, Oct. 16, forming the
pool from which a new Fire Chief will be hired for the Hoodland Fire District.
The district’s board of directors met on Friday, Oct. 23 to review the
applications and develop a consensus on the top candidates to move into the
interview process.
A Meet and Greet event featuring the top three candidates
will take place on. Sunday, Nov. 15. Time and place will be posted on the
district’s website, www.hoodlandfire.us. The public is welcome to the event,
which will also include the district’s career and volunteer staff.
“We were really elated to get that many,” said the
district’s board of directors president, Shirley Dueber.
Interviews are expected to take place on Monday, Nov. 16,
with a decision on the new chief sometime after. The new chief could take over
for the new year, although Dueber noted it would depend on the finalist’s prior
obligations.
The new chief will take over a district grappling with
issues brought to light by an organizational assessment performed by the SDAO,
in which it offered 64 recommendations dealing with everything from governance
and personnel management to finances and the training and safety program.
Interim Fire Chief Steve Abel noted that the district
continues to make progress, but much of what will be implemented will take
place when the new Fire Chief is aboard. Abel added that two of the financial
audits from previous years that were not done previously have been completed
(for fiscal years 2016-17 and 2017-18), with the only reported discrepancies
relating to administrative procedures. An audit for the 2018-19 fiscal year is
also in the final stage of completion and should be done by the end of
November, according to Abel.
“Getting (three) audits completed in this timeframe shows
the commitment of our Fire Board and staff,” Abel said in an email to the
Mountain Times.
Abel also added that the testing process for the district’s
Division Chief position was completed on Friday, Oct. 16, featuring three staff
members who applied for the position. The position transitioned from a deputy
chief position and will fulfil the intent of a levy passed by voters in May
2019. Abel plans on making the promotion once the testing results have been
certified by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
Abel appointed Scott Kline earlier this year to the Deputy
Chief position on an interim basis, but that appointment concluded at the end
of October due to a six-month limit by the CSC.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Chamber partners with county to spur business recovery posted on 11/01/2020
Following their earlier efforts to help Mountain businesses
during the pandemic, the Mt.Hood Area Chamber of Commerce has partnered with
Clackamas County’s Economic Development Division to connect businesses with
resources to support them. This program, called business recovery centers
(BRCs), is funded by $2 million in CARES Act funding and includes a number of chambers
throughout the county.
BRCs will provide funding for each chamber to hire and
deploy staff to support businesses, including offering connections to services
such as legal assistance, accounting and childcare.
“We’re doing it as slim as we can to make as much money
available to the businesses,” said Jeri McMahan, Mt.Hood Area Chamber Business
Recovery Center Representative.
McMahan said the chamber submitted a proposal and budget,
including planning to use space at the Hoodland Senior Center and hire up to
three outreach workers.
She noted that while the program could begin at the start of
November, funding still needed to be approved before it began.
The program is expected to last until the end of the year.
McMahan added that the outreach program offers person to
person contact and that the approach should be better than generic emails that
might not even be read.
“Boots on the ground and personal contact are more
successful,” she said.
The chamber has not held its monthly membership meetings due
to the pandemic, while board meetings have been held online. McMahan noted that
this year the chamber will not hold its annual volunteer breakfast, a
celebration of volunteerism that draws a crowd of people every December.
Earlier this year, the chamber created a promotional video
that aired on television and announced that there would be no membership dues
for the 2020-21 year to help support Mountain businesses during the pandemic.
For more information about BRCs or the chamber, visit
www.mthoodchamber.com, email mthoodareachamber@gmail.com or call 503-622-3017.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Resident program makes positive impact in Government Camp posted on 11/01/2020
Dawson Kooch, Brandon Bergeron, Matt Garcia and Lucas
Staples have been thrown into the fire – figuratively speaking – in their early
days with the Hoodland Fire District’s (HFD) resident program in Government
Camp. The four live in the recently renovated fire station while serving as the
first responders around Government Camp, meaning they may have to wait 20
minutes before other responders arrive on the scene.
“Having that station staffed has been wonderful,” HFD
interim chief Steven Abel said. “They’re absolutely energetic. I’m glad we have
competent people up there.”
For example, Abel noted, Dawson responded to a motorcycle
accident in September and was able to get a helicopter from the Life Flight
Network on its way to help before any other responders arrived.
“A lot can happen in 20 minutes,” said Kooch, a 20-year-old
who grew up in Damascus and has been at the station for three months. “It’s a
lot to take in. A lot of big decisions need to be made.”
There was also the cardiac arrest patient up at Timberline,
the head-on collision on Hwy. 26 involving a semi-truck and multiple other
vehicles at 4 a.m. and the RV fire.
“That was a new experience for me,” said Bergeron, also 20,
who grew up in Sandy and has been at the station for two months. “Rolling up on
that was like, ‘Whoa. This (RV) is ripping.’”
The group lives at the station, performing normal chores,
training and maintaining a professional atmosphere, while also looking to build
a career in the fire service. Garcia is a paramedic intern, Kooch and Staples
take an Emergency Medical Technician course through Mount Hood Community
College, while Bergeron works a part-time job at the Mt. Hood Athletic Club in
Sandy.
“Days that just one of us are here, those are the most
exciting days,” Kooch said.
Staples is the newest addition, starting at the station in
early October. The 21-year-old Sandy High School graduate noted he had met
Kooch while at the district’s academy and had met Bergeron at the gym, has
found the early experiences of living and working together to be enjoyable.
“It’s honestly been great,” Staples said.
“It’s like a scene out of ‘Step Brothers,’” he added,
referring to the movie starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly.
The residential program, which survived after a similar student
program got cut due to monetary reasons, may make another positive impact on
the community with an updated Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating, which
insurance companies use to help set insurance rates. Abel noted a survey was
recently completed and a new rating is expected.
“I am concerned about ISO ratings, but even more important
is the service (residents of Government Camp) are getting now,” Abel said,
adding that he hopes the higher visibility may attract more local people to
participate in the district.
And the public is starting to take notice. Kooch noted in
his first couple weeks, nobody said anything, but in September somebody stopped
by with some energy drinks for them. And later in the month, the responders
went out on a nighttime call and a resident serenaded them with a chant of
“Hoodland Fire.”
“It was kind of cool,” Bergeron said. “It was nice to feel
supportive.”
Kooch, who met Bergeron for the first time earlier this
year, noted that living at the station means that there’s the possibility of a
tone at any time, signifying the need to respond to a call, keeping them on
their toes.
“At any point, you never know when someone’s going to need
help,” he said. “It helps the day go by quicker, that’s for sure.”
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| County's property tax revenues continues growth in 2020 posted on 11/01/2020
(MT) – Property tax revenues increased by 4.47 percent in
Clackamas County this year, rising to $962,182,559, according to a press
release from the county’s Department of Assessment & Taxation. Tax
statements were mailed to 178,506 real and personal property owners on Oct. 22
and 23.
The $41.1 million increase in property taxes is generated
from new construction, voter approved money measures and the three percent
increase in assessed value under Measure 50 (M50).
Real market value in Clackamas County grew five percent this
year, continuing a growth trend that started in 2013, although the growth rate
for 2020 was at a slightly lower rate than in the past few years.
Property taxes in Oregon pay for local services. In
Clackamas County, property taxes support 130 local government districts,
including 18 school districts, 16 cities, 13 fire districts, 12 urban renewal
agencies and the county. Other taxing districts providing services include
water, public safety, the Port of Portland and Metro. Tax code areas on your
statement identify the unique mix of taxing districts for your location, there
are 365 different tax code areas in Clackamas County.
Real market value of all property in Clackamas County,
including new construction, totaled $86 billion for Jan. 1, 2020, up from $81.9
billion in 2019. Taxable value grew by 5.0 percent, from $53.1 billion to $55.8
billion.
The average real market value of a single-family home is
$488,376 and the median value is $425,969. The average taxable value is
$312,744 and the assessed value of an average home is equal to about 64 percent
of its real market value. The Assessor’s values on tax statements are as of
Jan. 1, 2020 and reflect market changes from Jan. 1, 2019 to Jan. 1, 2020. The
values do not reflect changes in the real estate market after the assessment
date of Jan. 1, 2020.
Property owners typically see a three percent increase in
taxes due to M50’s constitutional limitation of assessed value growth. This
year some areas are below three percent where districts levied less for bonded
debt, while in other areas taxes are greater than three percent due to voter
approval of new money measures.
Approximately 50,000 property owners will see tax increases
between zero and two percent, 51,000 between two and three percent, 45,000 will
see increases greater than three percent due to new money measures and
approximately 14,000 will see taxes reduced.
Under Measure 5’s tax limitation (M5), tax savings have
decreased for many property owners throughout Clackamas County over the past
several years due to the steady increase in real market value. For properties
in North Clackamas and Lake Oswego School districts, new local option levies
approved in 2019 increased tax and triggered compression for the districts.
Compression limits or reduces the tax property owners would otherwise pay
without the M5 limitations. M5 tax reductions grew from $6.7 million in 2018 to
$12.1 million in 2019 to $13.1 million in 2020. This year 34,000 accounts
received some savings as a result of the M5 limits, an increase of 762 accounts
over last year.
People can register at Clackamas.us/at for a virtual Town
Hall from either 1-3 p.m. or 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
If you have questions regarding the values on your tax
statement, please call county appraisal staff at 503-655-8671. Taxpayers can
file value appeals with the Board of Property Tax Appeals (BOPTA) through Dec.
31. BOPTA’s phone number is 503-655-8662.
Full payment of taxes is due by Nov. 16, to receive a three
percent discount. A two percent discount is given if a two-thirds payment is
received by Nov. 16. No discount is allowed on a one-third payment on Nov. 16,
with additional one-third payments due on Feb. 16 and May 17, 2021. |
|  Photo by Mic Eby.
In the 60-something years that Spooky Alley has been held,
there have only been a couple occasions when it was almost cancelled. And while
the coronavirus pandemic has caused the cancellation of events all over the
world, Spooky Alley will be back, offering the kids on the Mountain a safe and
fun place to celebrate Halloween and fill their bags (and stomachs) with some
sweets.
“It’s such a fun time, we can’t let it go,” said event
organizer Shirley Dueber. “It is a safe place for the kids to be.”
This year, the event will take place from 6-8 p.m. Saturday,
Oct. 31, in the rear parking lot of the Hoodland Park Plaza, 68200 Hwy. 26 in
Welches. To adhere to social distancing guidelines, participants should arrive
in cars and enter from Welches Road. Everyone must remain in cars and follow
the signs through candy stations to receive treats.
The event will also include a scary amount of decorations,
games with prizes that kids can earn while in their car and the traditional
costume judging competition. For those kids interested in the competition,
please bring a photo of the child in costume, with the child’s name, age and
phone number on the back.
The “Haunted Corridor” part of the event will not return
this year and no refreshments will be available.
Dueber has been involved with the event for 40-something
years and remembered two previous times when it faced some serious challenges.
One time, she noted, it snowed more than 18 inches before 7 p.m. but things
still went off without a hitch (although the fire chief at the time was
seriously delayed in getting home that night).
Another time, a different group had planned to organize the
event but announced two weeks before it was scheduled that it wouldn’t happen.
Dueber and another local took the lead and made it happen.
“We threw it together in less than two weeks,” she said. “So
we have not missed a year since it started. That’s when they made me permanent
chair.”
Dueber noted that her favorite candy is Snickers but
admitted in horrifying fashion that she doesn’t like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
because while she enjoys both peanut butter and chocolate, she doesn’t enjoy
them together.
“I will avoid them,” Dueber said. “If I get any I give them
away.”
She noted that the event is made possible by donations from
businesses, organizations and individuals throughout the community, including
the Mt. Hood Lions Club, the Hoodland Women's Club, the Welches Liquor Store,
All-Ways Towing and more.
“There’s a number of real faithful people that I can depend
on year after year to make sure it happens,” Dueber said. “We do what we can
for the community, especially the kids.”
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Riverside Fire.
Smoke blanketed the Mountain for more than a week in
September as wildfires raged in Clackamas County and beyond, including the
Riverside Fire, which caused the evacuation of Estacada and put Sandy and the
rest of the county on high alert.
The Riverside Fire began on Tuesday, Sept. 8 and was fueled
by dry weather and high winds, conditions that prompted Portland General
Electric (PGE) to preemptively cut the power to the Hoodland community.
“We’re really glad they did,” Steven Abel, Hoodland Fire
District’s interim Fire Chief said, noting that the end result meant that while
food may have spoiled, the community was spared a higher risk of a fire. “(And)
I think PGE scored a homerun with the community center they set up.”
Abel also credited PGE for their communication, both in
giving an advanced warning of the shutdown and during the time when power was
out.
Abel noted that the district’s firefighters were on hand and
ready for the event, with volunteers staffing the station. So many people
showed up that Abel added they didn’t have enough beds at the main station for
them.
Up to nine firefighters were sent out to active fires,
including in Estacada and Colton, along with four of the district’s apparatus:
a type-3 engine, a water tender and two brush trucks.
“There’s a lot of talent here,” Abel said.
“I think for a fire district this size, to have that talent
… the community is getting a great level of service from that," he added.
The Mountain community reached the Level 1 evacuation
status, “Be Ready,” and returned to normal on Monday, Sept. 21.
“For once we can see the mountains,” Abel said, adding that
the district will follow the lead of the Mount Hood National Forest (MHNF) when
it comes to when the burn ban will be lifted.
The MHNF closed during the windstorm and while many areas
reopened Saturday, Sept. 26, campfires were still prohibited and users were urged
to use caution around downed trees.
As of Sunday, Sept. 27, the Riverside Fire was 34 percent
contained, with minimal fire activity remaining beyond smoldering.
According to the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, as
of Saturday, Sept. 26, the state had experienced nine confirmed fatalities,
five missing persons, 2,626 sheltered persons, 5,169 individual assistant
registrants (1,696 approved), with approximately 1 million acres burned, 2,291
residences destroyed and 1,503 other structures destroyed.
The Oregon Employment Department has launched Disaster
Unemployment Assistance (DUA), providing financial support to people whose
ability to work has changed due to the wildfires. People are eligible if they
live in the following counties: Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane,
Lincoln, Linn and Marion.
DUA applications, instructions, frequently asked questions
and more at the Oregon
Employment Department’s website,
http://www.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/Disaster.
Applications must be received by Friday, Oct. 23.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) made 21 arrests
in Level 2 (“Be Set”) and Level 3 (“Go”) evacuation zones between midnight on
Tuesday, Sept. 8 and 6 a.m. Monday, Sept. 21.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Friends of Timberline auction goes virtual posted on 10/01/2020
The Friends of Timberline (FOT) kick off their annual
auction on Saturday, Oct. 3 following a virtual visit to the lodge and
featuring presentations from guests including United States Senator Ron Wyden,
as well as current news from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Timberline’s
operator, R.L.K. and Company.
The auction will be held online this year from Oct. 3-12
with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the final stages of the Naturalistic
Pools Restoration Project at the lodge.
The auction will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday to coincide
with the virtual lodge visit and will be a multiday event ending at 1 p.m. on
Oct. 12.
“The idea for this year’s auction is to offer up some
unusual things,” said FOT president Brent Dahl. “We’ve never done an online
auction before.”
Advanced preview of the auction items is available after
completing registration to bid. New items will continue to be added daily until
Oct. 2.
The Naturalistic Pools Restoration Project is slated for
completion by Oct. 31. The pools restoration has been an ongoing project of the
FOT since 2016 and will open to the public in 2021. The project is currently “a
little short on funds,” according to Dahl.
“The project will restore the pools back to how they were in
the 1930s” Dahl said. The pools were an original landscape feature on the
initial blueprints for the lodge. The three stacked pools cascade into each
other with the aid of a water pump returning the water uphill, and the largest
pool offers a clear reflection of Mount Hood on its surface.
An update on the project and a video tour of the pools will
be a part of the virtual lodge visit on Oct. 3. The visit will be held on Zoom
from 5-6 p.m.
Wyden is a featured guest for the event.
“He’s a personal fan of the lodge,” Dahl said.
Other guest speakers include Jeff Kohnstamm from R.L.K. and
Company, Todd Davidson from Travel Oregon and an update from the USFS about
current conditions in Mount Hood National Forest.
The lodge visit will be followed by a historic FOT
photography slide show at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The virtual visit is open for attendance by the public on
Oct. 3 via Zoom at http://bit.ly/VirtualLodgeVisitOct3 .
The Zoom meeting ID for the lodge visit is 745 946 8799 and
the passcode is PivotPlan.
Interested community members are invited to register for the
auction at http://bit.ly/FOTauctionsignup or
http://bit.ly/mobileFOTauctionsignup to sign up by mobile phone.
The FOT will also be holding their annual meeting online via
Zoom on Oct. 1 from 6-6:30 p.m. The meeting will feature updates on the
activities of the nonprofit and a vote to elect new board members.
The meeting can be joined at
http://bit.ly/FOT2020annualmeeting. The Zoom meeting ID is 745 946 8799 and the
passcode is PivotPlan.
“The main thing is for FOT to maintain community in this
most unusual of years,” Dahl said about shifting the 45-year-old nonprofit’s
upcoming events to an online format.
The Friends of Timberline Lodge can be reached by email at
info@friendsoftimberline.org or by phone at 503-295-0827.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Pizza toppings from scratch at Ivy Bear posted on 10/01/2020
Scott Olsen launched the Ivy Bear Family Pizzeria in 2012
with the goal of bringing artisanal pizza making methods to Mount Hood. After
years of crafting his pies using traditional Italian recipes along with locally
sourced ingredients and house-made sauce and dough, Olsen is now venturing
closer to realizing his dream of a “farm to fork” style pizzeria with the
addition of his own seasoned, smoked and cured meat toppings.
“The more you can do from scratch allows you to make a
product that no one else can make,” Olsen said about the production of his
pizzas. “I try to do everything I can to make the best pizza possible.”
In August, the Ivy Bear began offering house-made Canadian
bacon, Italian sausage, seasoned beef and three varieties of house cured
pepperoni: original, habanero and bison with their pies.
“The (house-made meats) take the pizzas to a whole other
level,” Olsen said. “When I do it in-house I can offer a better product than a
manufacturer. They always have their bottom line.”
Olsen said he was inspired while visiting the German town of
Rothenburg ob der Tauber with his wife on their honeymoon in 2017. There they
visited German butcher shops and witnessed the traditional production of cured
meats and sausages.
The new production methods require a considerable amount of
additional time. The pepperonis spend over a day in a dedicated curing chamber
and the Canadian bacon takes more than a week to brine, dry and smoke.
“I thought it might require too much time. It’s turned out
totally feasible and (the meats) are way better,” Olsen said. “It’s not a money
saver, but to be able to stand behind the product, it’s worth it.”
Olsen has invested in new equipment for the process
including a butcher-shop caliber meat grinder, a sausage machine, humidifiers
for the curing room and a custom-machined pepperoni slicing attachment for the
pizzeria’s meat slicer. Olsen had his neighbor create the attachment, which he
described as resembling a “gatling gun” that can cut seven pepperonis at a
time.
Even with the new production Olsen intends to continue to
offer the toppings at the same prices. The bison pepperoni will be offered at a
higher price point due to the higher cost of the Eastern Oregon-raised,
grass-fed bison meat.
“I recently asked the staff if they could think of anything
we can do from scratch that doesn’t involve raising the animals or producing
the cheese,” Olsen said about his dedication to producing artisanal pizza. “I
really don’t think there are more than a dozen pizza restaurants in the United
States doing what we’re doing.”
The Ivy Bear Family Pizzeria is located at 54735 Hwy. 26 in
Sandy. The pizzeria is open daily from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. and can be reached
by phone at 503-208-9111. By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Theater makes a scary return posted on 10/01/2020
When the Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company (NNB) last offered a
live production in front of an audience, they enjoyed the first few
performances of Sam Bobrick’s “Weekend Comedy” in March. But the run ended
after six performances thanks to the coronavirus epidemic, which also cancelled
the theater’s subsequent musical.
But it’s tough to keep a good theater troupe down, and this
month NNB is back with a new staged reading for each of the first four weekends
in October.
“It feels good,” said Kelly Lazenby, NNB’s Artistic Director
and one of its founders. “We just decided that we would slowly get our feet wet
a little bit. They are all sort of fanciful and very theatrical.”
The month kicks off with “Through the Looking Glass,”
adapted from Lewis Carroll’s work, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” on Oct.
3-4, featuring performers Jim Butterfield, Tracey Grant, Melissa Sondergeld
Hood, Kaleb Hood and Justin Lazenby.
On the weekend of Oct. 10-11, George Bernard Shaw and
Christopher Morse’s “Pygmalion” will be read, followed by “Don Juan in Hell,”
by Shaw, on Oct. 17-18 and an evening of Edgar Allen Poe on Oct. 24-25.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays,
with performances taking place at the Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in
Boring. Admission is $10, with a special offer of $30 for all four shows, with
tickets only available by reserving online and no sales at the door (any
tickets for performances that are cancelled will be refunded).
Lazenby noted the Grange building makes for a good setup to
adhere to social distancing standards, with seating limited to 30 people per
performance and chairs spread out (families will be permitted to sit together).
Face coverings are required and all seats will be sanitized in between
performances.
“There’s a way to do it safely,” Lazenby said, noting the
theater did not have a good way to try and make online offerings work since the
pandemic hit. “A lot of people were really happy when I sent out a press
release (announcing the shows).”
She added that while the theater was dark this summer, that
doesn’t mean that things weren’t busy. She and her husband spent time working
on the Grange building, including painting, refinishing the floor and
remodeling the lobby and kitchen.
“It’s looking pretty spiffy in there,” Lazenby said.
She also noted that there are no plans for the theater to
ramp up to full speed yet, and it will likely depend on when students are
allowed to return to in-person learning at school. She sees potential for doing
another reading for the Christmas season, but conceded that full live
performances might not return until next year.
For more information, or to make reservations, call
503-593-1295 or visit nnbtheater.com. By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Stretch run for election starts this month posted on 10/01/2020
(MT) – Mountain residents should circle Tuesday, Nov. 3,
election day, on their calendar, as ballots are due by 8 p.m.
Register to vote
Most Oregonians (those with a valid Oregon Driver’s
License/Permit/ID card) can register online. All others can complete a voter
registration card and return it to the Elections Office. Voter registration
cards are available online, as well as at post offices and libraries. The
deadline for new voter registration is Tuesday, Oct. 13. Visit
www.clackamas.us/elections for more information.
Get your ballot
All households in Clackamas County will receive two Voters’
Pamphlets – one for state contests and one for local level contests. Voters’
Pamphlets will be delivered to households a week before ballots are mailed.
Oregon uses vote-by-mail, so look for your ballot in the
mail 14-20 days before the election. If you will be away from home, contact the
Elections Office at 503-655-8510 to find the best way to receive your ballot.
Make your selections
Locate the candidates and/or measure responses (“Yes” or
“No”) of your choice by filling in the rectangular box to the left of your
choice with black or blue ink.
To vote for a write-in candidate, one whose name does not
appear on the Official Ballot, completely darken the box to the left of the
dashed line provided for the office and print the full name of the candidate on
that line.
Remember, you don’t have to vote in all contests on your
ballot. Your votes for the contests you select will still be counted. If you
vote for more than the number of candidates allowed for an office, or you vote
both “Yes” and “No” on a measure, it is called an “overvote,” and your vote for
that position or measure will not be counted.
Review your ballot
Ensure you have correctly marked your choice(s) for each
contest. Your ballot contains contests printed on both the front and back.
Remember to review both sides of your ballot.
Remember to sign your ballot return envelope. Your signature
is your identification. Every signature on every ballot envelope is examined to
make sure it matches the signature on the voter’s registration.
If you lose your ballot, or it is spoiled in any way,
contact the Clackamas County Elections Division at 503-655-8510 to request a
replacement.
Return your ballot
Vote early and return your ballot by mail. No postage
necessary, but make sure it’s mailed or dropped off in time to reach the county
by 8 p.m. on Election Day. The last day to safely return your ballot by mail is
Tuesday, Oct. 27 (please note, a postmark doesn’t count).
Drop your ballot off in person. Deliver your signed and
sealed ballot to any official drop site by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Drop sites
can be found at www.clackamas.us/elections/official-ballot-drop-sites.
Voters can confirm their ballot has been received and
accepted by visiting https://sos.oregon.gov. The site refreshes daily, so it
could take up to 48 hours to display the accurate information.
Important Dates
Monday, Oct. 5: Ballots mailed to voters out of state.
Oct. 7-9: In home delivery dates for both State and County
Voters' Pamphlet.
Tuesday, Oct. 13: Registration deadline for new voters.
Wednesday, Oct. 14: Ballots mailed to all voters / Drop
Sites opened.
Tuesday, Oct. 27: Ballot processing begins after public
certification test of the tally system.
Tuesday, Nov. 3: Election Day, ballots due by 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 17: Last day for voters to resolve ballot
challenges.
Monday, Nov. 23: Last day for County Clerk to certify
election results.
Clackamas County Elections Division is located at 1710 Red
Soils Court, Suite 100 Oregon City, OR 97045, and can be reached at
503-655-8510, by email at elections@clackamas.us or online at
www.clackamas.us/elections.
|
| Old men dance, young pups play and a fundraising jolt posted on 10/01/2020
Celebra Con Nosotros
A slice of Latin America arrived in Sandy with the first
annual Fiesta en La Plaza which included music, food and entertainment.
One of the highlights of the festival was the "Dance of
the Old Men," which despite its name, was a lively exhibition of
toe-tapping fun featuring migrant farm workers wearing colorful costumes, masks
and sombreros, clattering on the bricks of the plaza with wooden shoes while
leaning on their canes and clutching their backs like old men.
The "Dance of the Old Men" is a traditional
Mexican dance.
In addition to the food and dancing, there were craft
booths, activities for the children and storytelling.
Deputy Consul Jorge Torres-Mendoza represented the Mexican
Consulate from Portland.
Viva Mariachi Mexico, a mariachi band, ended the evening,
which had the audience clapping along and dancing to the lively music.
Dog Days at Skibowl
Every dog has its day, and the setting for the first annual
Dog Day at Skibowl was perfect, providing dogs of all shapes and sizes room to
sniff, snooze, play, lounge and do what dogs do best. Monica Cory, then media
manager at Skibowl and a self-professed dog lover, came up with the idea which
also tied in with a benefit for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
"Skibowl is a perfect place for this event with its 40
acres of trails and the accessibility and services," Cory said.
The event featured fun runs/walks, a "best pet trick
contest," a raffle and dog-friendly vendors selling everything from
leashes to treats.
Oregon Guide Dogs for the Blind, which has a campus in
Boring, provides 350 guide dogs free-of-charge to visually impaired people each
year. For more information about guide dogs and the incredible work they do,
visit their website at www.guidedogs.org.
WPTCO Fundraising with Mt. Hood Roasters
Wake up, smell the coffee, raise some money and a red-hot
concept of selling coffee as a fundraiser was brewed. Cheryl Gunderson, then
WPTCO vice-president came up with the idea.
"Coffee is something most people buy on a regular basis
anyway ... so I approached Rick Applegate (proprietor of Mt Hood Roasters) and
asked if he had done any fundraising with coffee," Gunderson said.
As it turned out, Applegate had been developing a
fundraising division in their company for some time.
"When Cheryl came to us with the idea we were
elated," Applegate said. "It makes us very happy that our community
found a way to launch this concept with us. We are very thankful for all the
work WPTCO does for the school."
The Leadership Class at Welches School designed a custom
label for the coffee bags, and the yearly fundraiser was in full swing, with
students selling coffee for prizes provided by local businesses. During the
past ten years Mt Hood Roasters has sold 7,000 12-ounce bags and raised $29,000
for the WPTCO from the sale of its coffee. The coffee fundraising for this year
is on hold due to COVID.
By Frances Berteau/MT |
| John Ingrao resigns as Hoodland Fire Chief posted on 09/01/2020
John Ingrao resigned as the Hoodland Fire District Fire
Chief, effective July 31. Ingrao had served as the Fire Chief since January
2017 but had been placed on administrative leave in March by the district’s
board of directors, pending an investigation. His resignation effectively ends
the investigation.
Board chair Shirley Dueber had no comment on the
investigation.
Interim Fire Chief Steven Abel, who was hired in March to
oversee the district during Ingrao’s absence, noted the board approved the
first reading of a draft job description for a new Fire Chief at a Thursday,
Aug. 27 work session. The board could approve the second reading at the
Tuesday, Sept. 8 board meeting and the recruitment process could begin after
that, which will be coordinated by the Special Districts Association of Oregon
(SDAO).
Abel noted the position could be advertised for a 30-day
period as early as the middle of September, with interviews potentially lined
up for the second week of November.
“Then it's a matter of timing … making sure we have the
right candidate for Hoodland and the person’s availability,” Abel said, adding
that he hopes the process is complete by mid-December and that he will assist
the SDAO.
Chief Abel also noted he asked the board to approve a job
description for a division chief, shifting from the search for a Deputy Chief
position that had been underway, while noting there is no timeline for finding
candidates for the new position.
He added it is intended to meet the intent of a levy passed
by voters in May 2019 to fund a Deputy Chief position, a process that began in
November 2019 only to restart this past February after not enough applicants
came forward.
Abel appointed Scott Kline earlier this year as the Deputy
Chief on an interim basis.
“I think we have great talent here within the organization,”
Abel added.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| County holds listening session on race issues posted on 09/01/2020
In response to the civil rights moment sweeping the nation
following the death of George Floyd, Clackamas County Commissioners showed they
want to listen and learn from residents’ experiences with issues of race and
racism in the county.
The commissioners hosted a digital town hall on Wednesday,
Aug. 19 on the topic “Race Issues in Clackamas County.”
The town hall was a listening-style session during which
community members shared experiences with race and racism in the county
directly with the commissioners. The event was moderated by Clackamas County
Equity and Inclusion Officer Martine Coblentz.
“Equity, diversity and inclusion have been important to the
county for years,” Coblentz said. “We want to continue building the public’s
trust and that includes rural and unincorporated communities in the Mount Hood
area as well.”
On June 18, commissioners passed "A Resolution
Condemning Violence and Racism Directed at Black, African Americans and All
People of Color," censuring racism following Floyd’s death.
The resolution tasks the county to review all county
policies and ordinances for any discriminatory impacts.
The town hall was held in an effort to provide a safe space
for residents to share impacts and recommendations toward addressing inequities
that exist.
The commissioners stated in a press release for the event
that, “recognizing racism is both an historic and present reality in Oregon and
Clackamas County specifically, the commissioners find it critical to listen to
resident experiences.”
Community members described their experiences with racism in
the county and shared recommendations for change.
Shared experiences included bullying and racial slurs in the
county’s schools, profiling in stores and encounters with “Proud Boys,” a
right-wing group designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Calls for action included establishing methods for holding institutions and
elected officials accountable for systemic discrimination and addressing
inequity in access to housing, healthcare and bias by law enforcement.
Clackamas County is 85.8 percent white according to county
demographic data. The county’s 1.1 percent African American population is below
the state’s 2.2 percent average and the nation’s 13.4 percent total.
“We had a good representation from communities throughout
the county,” Coblentz said about residents' participation in the digital
meeting. “I was pleased; it was a very good first step.”
Coblentz added that the next step of the process of
implementing the recently based resolution involves reviewing what policies and
procedures need to be addressed for discriminatory impact.
Clackamas County will partner with the Coalition of
Communities of Color (CCC) for a full scan of minority communities throughout the
entire county including the Mount Hood communities. The CCC will use this data
to help assess how county policies and institutions impact these communities
and make recommendations.
More information about the county’s efforts to address
equity, diversity and inclusion is available at
https://www.clackamas.us/diversity. A full copy of the recently passed
resolution is available at
https://dochub.clackamas.us/documents/drupal/9367ec38-f479-46c0-a732-29dd9b917092.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
|  White River Fire
A wildfire started by lightning was discovered on Monday,
Aug. 17 approximately 13 miles southeast of Government Camp in the White River
drainage near Forest Road 48. Early estimates put the fire at approximately 150
acres, but by Saturday, Aug. 29, it had grown to 11,184 acres.
Mary Ellen Fitzgerald, Incident Information Officer, noted
that the fire left lands on the Mount Hood National Forest and was threatening
Pine Grove.
Hoodland Fire District (HFD) Chief Steven Abel stressed that
this time of year brings high fire danger in the area and that all open fires
are banned in the Mount Hood National Forest and in the district.
“We’re just asking people, the weather is dryer, to be
extremely cautious,” Abel said. “People don’t realize the danger we are in
right now.”
Abel added that the district sent a brush truck with two
personnel to the White River Fire, and that Clackamas County had recently
declined to send firefighters to California.
“Our first priority here is to make sure the Hoodland Fire
District is covered,” Abel said. “That’s not going to be an issue.”
The efforts on the White River Fire took a tragic turn on
Monday, Aug. 24 when Thomas Duffy, 40, of Bozeman, Mont. died when the
helicopter he was flying crashed while conducting bucket drops.
An Honor Guard procession from Portland to Hood River was on
Thursday, Aug. 27. An investigation into the crash is ongoing.
The response to the fire grew to include 819 total personnel
and 19 engines, five dozers, eight water tenders and seven helicopters as of
Saturday, Aug. 29.
The Wasco County Sheriff issued evacuation notices on
Thursday, Aug. 27 for the area east from Bear Springs Ranger Station along Hwy.
216 through Pine Grove to the intersection of Endersby Road and Hwy. 216, also
included are all of Endersby Road, Linns Mill Road and Kelly Springs Road.
For the latest closure information and specifics on closed
campgrounds, recreation areas, trails and roads, see the forest Facebook page
and Inciweb https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7013/
Protect your home
Tips from the American Red Cross on how to prepare your
property for a potential wildfire:
– Create a defensible space around your home by using the
National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) zone concept.
– Choose fire-resistant plants. Consult a landscaper in your
area or this state-by-state list of fire-resistant plants at the National Fire
Protection Association’s Firewise website.
– Create empty space between shrubs and trees to reduce the
chance of flames leaping between them.
– Prune trees above the height of bushes and shrubs
(approximately six to ten feet off the ground) and remove dead branches.
– Mow grassy areas regularly so that the grass is never more
than four inches high.
– Remove dead and dry plants that could fuel a fire, as well
as fallen leaves, pinecones, and other dry plant material.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Coffee House 26 offers hand with water drive posted on 09/01/2020
When Amber Ford, owner of Welches coffee and book shop
Coffee House 26, heard about the water crisis in Warm Springs she knew she
wanted to raise awareness and provide assistance for the neighboring community
on the other side of Mount Hood.
“Our thought process was, ‘There are 200 to 300 families,
including older people and children, in a community being impacted by the
pandemic without running water,’” Ford said. “We don’t know the details of the
political issues, we just knew our neighbors needed help.”
After a temporary fix to a break in a water line failed at
the end of June, thousands of Warm Springs community members, businesses, as
well as a health clinic and senior housing on the reservation were left without
safe tap water for more than seven weeks. Approximately 300 families were left
with no running water at all. A reservation-wide boil notice was issued on June
25 and stayed in effect until Aug. 17.
Ford decided to head a donation drive to deliver water and
other needed supplies to Warm Springs. She established Coffee House 26 as a
community drop spot in Welches at the beginning of July.
“Welches is small, but as soon as we put (the donation
drive) on Facebook I felt like I was getting calls constantly asking what
people could do to help,” Ford said.
During July and the first weeks of August the drive gathered
450 sealed gallons of water, canned food, sanitizing and hygiene products,
masks, as well as donations to a fund established to crowd source repairs for
the water system. Ford and her partner, Tyler Lehmann, made a trip every other
week to deliver the supplies to a drinking water distribution center operating
out of an old school in Warm Springs.
Ford stated the water crisis was made even more drastic by a
quarantine on the reservation during the end of July which was extended through
Aug. 21.
During the quarantine the water donation center remained
open to provide community members with a place to procure fresh water and use
handwashing and shower stations.
The water boil notice was lifted for the reservation on Aug.
17 after repairs were completed to the water line.
“As of 4:30 p.m. Aug. 17, 2020 the EPA concurred with the
results and recommendation of the water department to lift the boil water
notice. Normal consumption of potable water can resume,” said Travis Wells,
general manager of the Warm Springs Branch of Public Utilities, in a written
statement.
Ford intends to continue to accept water and personal
hygiene products at Coffee House 26 for Warm Springs.
“The community recently discovered that another section of
the line is now broken, affecting more residents and leaving many without
water,” Ford wrote in a follow-up email. “They are still battling COVID pretty
intensely, and now they have an outbreak of fires surrounding the reservation.”
Ford stated she hopes continued support from Welches
residents will help “ease some of the worries” for the neighboring community.
“It’s a weird time to ask (for donations) but people didn’t
even blink,” Ford stated about the positive community support for the drive.
Coffee House 26 is located at 67211 Hwy. 26 in Welches.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
|  "Polar Vortex"
A blue and white quilt, titled “Polar Vortex,” created by
Welches resident Jean Ludeman took a trip to Paducah, Ken. this year.
Unfortunately, Ludeman did not.
The quilt was accepted for the American Quilter’s Society’s
(AQS) QuiltWeek, a quilt show featuring hundreds of quilters from around the
world, competing for ribbons and awards. The show was initially scheduled for
April, then rescheduled for September and finally cancelled altogether, all due
to the coronavirus pandemic.
Thankfully, the quilt made its way back to Ludeman earlier
this summer.
“It’s been like many things for many people, it’s been a
roller coaster ride,” she said, noting that it now resides in her dining room.
“The disappointment of not being able to go and see it hanging was difficult,
but certainly understandable under the conditions we’re in right now.”
Ludeman started sewing garments when she was nine years old
and has sewn on and off her entire life. When she was close to retirement, she
took a class to make table runners, then got serious about quilting in 2005.
“I enjoy selecting the fabrics and figuring out the
patterns; I like the challenge,” Ludeman said, adding that she does all kinds
of quilting, including applique, landscapes, portraits and more. “I enjoy it
all. I think it's the challenge of finding the right fabric in creating the
look you want.”
Ludeman, who quilts on average five days each week, got the
pattern for “Polar Vortex” a few years ago, noting the person who designed it
had done it with primary colors. Looking to do something different, her vision
was a quilt featuring gradation of blues and whites.
She finished it last September and it was included in quilt
shows in Portland and the Columbia River Gorge, where it received multiple
first place ribbons. Ludeman noted that judges at shows look very closely at
each quilt, including the stitching, design, matching of points and more.
“Quilting shows are very competitive,” she said. “It gets
very detailed toward the end, picking which is best. I was honored to receive
all those ribbons.”
Ludeman added that she has been to the AQS QuiltWeek twice
before, but this was to be the first time with one of her quilts. The show
typically lasts up to four days, including classes and vendors offering the
latest tools and patterns.
But she may get another chance to see her quilt there, as
she plans on submitting “Polar Vortex” for the 2021 show.
“It’s hard to know whether it will be juried in a second
time, but we’ll hope,” Ludeman said.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Future of backup well uncertain for Welches Water Company posted on 09/01/2020
At the Saturday, Aug. 22 annual meeting of the Welches Water
Company, held over Zoom, president Ray Miller noted the non-profit, which serves
130 households, could not resolve problems surrounding access to its backup
well through mediation.
The backup well, which has seen heavy use over the past two
years, was built in the 1990s on property then owned by Doug Saldivar and his
wife, but the property was sold two years ago to Mark Tobias and Monica Taylor.
An agreement between the Saldivars and the water company from 2001 gave the
company access to the well and a shed, but an easement was never filed with the
county and a copy of that agreement did not surface until this past spring.
Jennie Bricker, an attorney representing Tobias and Taylor,
noted at the meeting that they do not believe they are bound by that agreement.
“The bottom line is Mark and Monica took title to the
property with no knowledge of the agreement,” Bricker said, adding that her
clients had been informed of an informal agreement when purchasing the property
and had wanted to craft a written agreement with the water company. “Things
could have been much different. I regret that they have gotten to this point.”
Bricker added that the couple did not feel they were getting
cooperation from the water company, including a “threat” that the company could
convert into a district and take the property via condemnation.
Tobias and Taylor sent a letter dated Aug. 14 to the members
of the water company, explaining their side and outlining their terms for
continued use of the well.
Saldivar, who still lives in the area, also attended the
annual meeting to respond to aspects of that letter, including the contention
that Tobias and Taylor were not aware of the fact that the well was intended
for the water company’s use.
“It surprised me a little bit,” Saldivar said. “I have a
feeling with the stress and everything that’s going on, they remembered things
differently.”
He noted that when the property was put on the market, he
created a website that included a page with information on the well and the
water company, including three associated easements, while also explaining the
situation when interested buyers toured the property. He also provided a
three-ringed binder with zoning and other information to Tobias and Taylor
after the purchase and in the disclosure forms when the closing on the property
took place.
Saldivar also added that the well was discussed during the
process when he and his wife considered keeping part of the property that
included the well and when he recommended that Tobias and Taylor serve on the
water company’s board, noting there was “no motivation to keep info from them.”
Saldivar did take responsibility for not recording the 2001
contract with the county.
The standoff on the well leaves the water company unable to
make changes to the shed, preventing them from upgrading to a UV filtration
system. Miller noted that they are operating as if under the 2001 agreement,
but that future steps are up to Tobias and Taylor.
“They have threatened us with the closure of the well and
the closure of the shed area,” Miller said. “The next move is up to them.”
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Welches students begin school year with distance learning posted on 09/01/2020
Schools across Oregon sent students home in March for the
coronavirus epidemic, first for a few weeks, then for more than a month and
finally for the remainder of the school year.
Now, as the 2020-21 school year begins, students in the
Oregon Trail School District (OTSD) will remain at home for distance learning,
with the choice of virtual synchronous or asynchronous instruction.
"We want to thank our families for their resilience,
adaptability, and patience," Aaron Bayer, OTSD Superintendent, said.
"We understand the pressure distance learning puts on them and are
committed to expanding our partnership to engage their children in
learning."
Synchronous instruction, via live-streamed sessions, will
occur during regular school hours. Asynchronous instruction, via recorded
sessions, can be done at a time convenient for the student’s family.
Classes for synchronous instruction will offer a full
curriculum, with students receiving grades, while the district intends to
transition to a hybrid model when students are allowed back into the classroom.
Parents who are uncomfortable sending a child to school when the transition
happens can opt to have their child continue to participate in the virtual
classes from home.
Asynchronous instruction will be provided by two online
educational platforms, Schools PLP for grades kindergarten through fifth and
Edgenuity for grades six through 12, offering pre-recorded lessons that may be
viewed at any time. Students who participate in online instruction would not
transition to the hybrid model once schools reopen but would continue with the
online instruction for the full school year.
Students with an Individualized Education Program or a 504
plan will hear from case managers during the first week of school to go over
their plans.
The district will also work with families for technology and
internet needs, including Chromebooks and wireless hotspots available for
checkout.
Virtual classes will take place on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
and Friday, with advisory classes and kindergarten through fifth grade
community building classes on Wednesdays. Teachers will also have daily office
hours. Elementary students will be assigned to their grade level class, while
middle school students will be in classes for core content areas (math, science,
social studies and English language arts) and high school students will be
assigned classes based on their completed forecast.
The district also will offer meals, and will distribute a
plan and schedule to parents, along with information about the state’s expanded
free and reduced guidelines.
To transition to the hybrid model, offering instruction with
two cohorts of students attending school on alternating days, the district will
follow health metrics from the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department
of Education. Metrics for both Clackamas and Multnomah County will be
considered due to 38 percent of the district’s teachers living in Multnomah
County.
For more information and full details on reopening and
COVID-19, visit www.oregontrailschools.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Contributed photo.
Roger Cooke’s 1993 mural, “Peaceful Vistas,” has offered the
inspiring image of a pioneer wagon train to passersby on Meinig Avenue between
Proctor Blvd. and Pioneer Blvd. in Sandy. The Sandy Arts Commission (SAC)
restored the mural last summer and had planned on celebrating the
accomplishment in May.
Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, that celebration was
postponed twice. But now, at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, that celebration will
finally take place.
“It’s been a year since we started the restoration,” said
Becky Hawley, chair of the SAC. “ I feel like this is the culmination of a lot
of hard work and a chance to allow us to honor the original artist. I hope that
it will focus a positive light on the city’s public art.”
The event and an unveiling of a bronze historical marker
honoring Cooke will be held in the parking lot across the street from the
mural, at the corner of 17450 SE Meinig Ave. and Pioneer Blvd., offering space
enough for participants to practice social distancing.
Hawley and Pamela Smithsted were the lead artists for the
restoration work, which included other local artists and featured an almost
total repainting of the mural. The only part left untouched was Cooke’s
signature.
Cooke, who lived on Marmot Road for many years and was known
for his historical depictions of Native American tribes, painted the mural for
Oregon’s sesquicentennial celebration. Cooke painted more than 60 murals,
including in small towns along the Oregon Trail.
Restoration work took more than three weeks to complete with
volunteers contributing more than 280 hours. Other painters included Marcia
Morrow, Arts Commissioner and Wy’east Artisans Guild (WAG) president, WAG
members Micaiah Meyer and Vern Groff, Lori Putman of the Sandy Historical
Society and Taylor West, a recent graduate of Sandy High School.
Hawley noted that the restoration process was fun in part
due to people in cars who were stopped at the traffic light in the intersection
and took the opportunity to honk their horn or shout out encouragement.
“We realized what a need there was for a bronze plaque with
info on the artist and the history,” she added.
Hawley also noted the mural was in sad shape in some areas
before the restoration, including portions that had completely lost the paint.
Fortunately, most of those areas were part of the sky, where Cooke had not used
many layers of paint.
“The majority of foreground was still intact,” Hawley said.
“We were able to use a clear primer over the existing mural and then do a kind
of paint by number, using pattern underneath.”
The effort was helped by Ernie Brache of AEC, who loaned the
use of a scissor-lift for the duration of the project, and John and Allison
Milward, of Ace Hardware, who offered supplies.
Prints of Cooke’s work are expected to be available at the
celebration, with proceeds benefiting the City of Sandy’s Arts Fund.
“I’m just hoping that this will be a positive show of
appreciation for Sandy’s public art and appreciation for what has gone into
saving it,” Hawley said.
For more information about the ceremony, email
CityArt@cityofsandy.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Community survey highlights future options for Rhododendron posted on 07/30/2020
A recent community-wide online survey for the “Rhododendron
Main Street Site Redevelopment Plan” revealed a community desire for safer highway
conditions for pedestrians and cyclists in the proposed development area, as
well as an interest in improving the appearance of the site from the highway.
The survey was conducted from May 28 through June 19 by
Clackamas County, the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD)
and the MIG consultant team.
“We got fairly good turnout for an online survey,” said
Scott Hoelscher, Senior Planner for Clackamas County Department of
Transportation and Development.
There were a total of 116 survey participants with 57
percent of respondents indicating that they are part time/seasonal residents.
17 percent of survey participants were year-round residents and 9 percent own
businesses in the community.
The survey results will be used by the consultant team to
develop three design alternatives to guide redevelopment of the project area.
The proposed site for redevelopment consists of two privately held properties
on the southwest side of Hwy. 26 totaling 3.73 acres. The properties are across
from Mount Hood Foods and the Rhododendron Post Office.
Publicly owned lands adjacent to the Rhododendron Swinging
Bridge and the Rhododendron Community Landscape at the Barlow Trail Oregon
Historic Marker are also included in the project area.
The survey was one of several methods for collecting input
from the community including an online virtual tour of the site. Additional
opportunities for community input to refine the preferred concept will occur
during the following months.
“An interest in streetscape frontage redesign and safe
crossing of Hwy. 26 stood out to me,” Hoelscher said about community input
gathered from the survey.
76 percent of respondents chose “Providing safer conditions
for walking and biking” as the top opportunity for the redevelopment from the
survey options. This was followed by 62 percent of participants choosing
improving appearance along the highway as a focus for the project.
Survey respondents chose unsafe biking/walking conditions or
crossings, highway traffic, speed or noise and the appearance or condition of
businesses as the top challenges the community faces while planning the
project.
When asked about types of new residential uses for the site,
townhomes had the highest positive response followed by condos or townhomes
with office uses or commercial spaces on the ground floor.
Themes expressed by write-in responses include maintaining a
forested, cabin identity for the community and ensuring consistent design of
new development. Some respondents voiced opposition to the development citing
concern over change to the rural nature of the community or the small site size
being unable to support development without increased traffic issues and strain
on existing infrastructure.
Respondents also suggested the design team consider
increased traffic impacts and affordability/displacement in the community.
“I’m pleased with the feedback from the survey,” said Steve
Graeper, Rhododendron Community Planning Organization (CPO) board president, in
a written response. “Comments were as expected, most of them favorable.”
“We’re going to use this input to move to the next stage of
developing three conceptual design alternatives,” Hoelscher said.
The original timeline for the project called for the
completion of the design process during the summer of 2020.
“That timeline was pretty aggressive,” Hoelscher said,
citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a major factor in slowing the timeline for the
redevelopment project. “We’re not going to complete (the design alternatives)
this summer.”
More information on the project is available at:
https://www.clackamas.us/engineering/rhododendron-main-street-redevelopment-plan.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| Community survey highlights future options for Rhododendron posted on 07/30/2020
A recent community-wide online survey for the “Rhododendron
Main Street Site Redevelopment Plan” revealed a community desire for safer highway
conditions for pedestrians and cyclists in the proposed development area, as
well as an interest in improving the appearance of the site from the highway.
The survey was conducted from May 28 through June 19 by
Clackamas County, the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD)
and the MIG consultant team.
“We got fairly good turnout for an online survey,” said
Scott Hoelscher, Senior Planner for Clackamas County Department of
Transportation and Development.
There were a total of 116 survey participants with 57
percent of respondents indicating that they are part time/seasonal residents.
17 percent of survey participants were year-round residents and 9 percent own
businesses in the community.
The survey results will be used by the consultant team to
develop three design alternatives to guide redevelopment of the project area.
The proposed site for redevelopment consists of two privately held properties
on the southwest side of Hwy. 26 totaling 3.73 acres. The properties are across
from Mount Hood Foods and the Rhododendron Post Office.
Publicly owned lands adjacent to the Rhododendron Swinging
Bridge and the Rhododendron Community Landscape at the Barlow Trail Oregon
Historic Marker are also included in the project area.
The survey was one of several methods for collecting input
from the community including an online virtual tour of the site. Additional
opportunities for community input to refine the preferred concept will occur
during the following months.
“An interest in streetscape frontage redesign and safe
crossing of Hwy. 26 stood out to me,” Hoelscher said about community input
gathered from the survey.
76 percent of respondents chose “Providing safer conditions
for walking and biking” as the top opportunity for the redevelopment from the
survey options. This was followed by 62 percent of participants choosing
improving appearance along the highway as a focus for the project.
Survey respondents chose unsafe biking/walking conditions or
crossings, highway traffic, speed or noise and the appearance or condition of
businesses as the top challenges the community faces while planning the
project.
When asked about types of new residential uses for the site,
townhomes had the highest positive response followed by condos or townhomes
with office uses or commercial spaces on the ground floor.
Themes expressed by write-in responses include maintaining a
forested, cabin identity for the community and ensuring consistent design of
new development. Some respondents voiced opposition to the development citing
concern over change to the rural nature of the community or the small site size
being unable to support development without increased traffic issues and strain
on existing infrastructure.
Respondents also suggested the design team consider
increased traffic impacts and affordability/displacement in the community.
“I’m pleased with the feedback from the survey,” said Steve
Graeper, Rhododendron Community Planning Organization (CPO) board president, in
a written response. “Comments were as expected, most of them favorable.”
“We’re going to use this input to move to the next stage of
developing three conceptual design alternatives,” Hoelscher said.
The original timeline for the project called for the
completion of the design process during the summer of 2020.
“That timeline was pretty aggressive,” Hoelscher said,
citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a major factor in slowing the timeline for the
redevelopment project. “We’re not going to complete (the design alternatives)
this summer.”
More information on the project is available at:
https://www.clackamas.us/engineering/rhododendron-main-street-redevelopment-plan.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| 'Bite' proceeds to help boost area businesses posted on 07/30/2020
One of the Mt. Hood Area Chamber of Commerce’s most popular
events, the Bite of Mount Hood, will have an immediate impact despite not being
held since 2017. The organization will use proceeds in two ways to support
community businesses in the face of the coronavirus pandemic: the first is a
30-second advertisement that will air on KOIN, the northwest television station
affiliated with CBS, and the second is by paying dues for it’s 2020-21 year for
its members.
“It’s needed,” said Coni Scott, Chamber Vice President and
head of membership. “It’s really important that the chamber does everything
they can to help everybody. Businesses are really having a hard time.”
Scott chaired the Bite and noted the philosophy behind it
was to put all the money back into the community, with the funds set aside from
the Chamber’s operational funds. She added that in the past the organization
offered grants as part of that support.
The KOIN advertisement is expected to start airing on
Saturday, Aug. 15, and will likely feature a variety of scenes from the
Mountain community, including recreational activities such as biking and
hiking, a restaurant and more. Scott said that is expected to run for three
months and will cost $17,000.
She added that the area where the advertisement will be
seen, as far as the Oregon coast and down to Eugene, is where a large portion
of recent visitors come from, looking for a safe vacation option close to home.
Scott noted that the dues total approximately $12,000, which
keep the Chamber going throughout the year, including insurance and
bookkeeping.
As for a possible return of the Bite, held in April for a
number of years featuring food from a large variety of area restaurants and
offering auctions and more, Scott didn’t rule it out for the future. But she
added that somebody would need to step up as the new chairperson.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| El Burro Loco rides into a new era posted on 07/30/2020
Marc Accuardi, one of the new owners of El Burro Loco,
described himself as an “Italian chef that fell in love with Oaxaca food,”
thanks to his experience in Mexico.
“I always thought Mexican food was pretty simple,” Accuardi
said. “Boy was I wrong. The complexity of the region is unbelievable.”
Accuardi and his business partner, Darren Wiese, who also
own the Whistle Stop Bar & Grill, plan on freshening up the menu at the
Burro with some better products and doing things on more of a daily basis.
“We’re not stocking the refrigerator full of things,”
Accuardi said. “We use what we made today. That’s shown a huge improvement.”
Accuardi noted they’ve already upgraded the rice to a higher
quality (and vegetarian), while also improving the black and pinto beans,
adding a chicken mole tamale, new salsas and more.
“It’s like what we did at the Whistle Stop,” Wiese said,
adding that they plan on bar upgrades, including expanded tequila and new
cocktails. “We just elevated a little bit, freshened things up.”
The pair, who took over on May 1, also plan on adding good
bar food, such as a variety of queso, while also striving for consistency in
their food and drinks. And while they have already done some work in the
kitchen and dining room, the long-term plans include moving the cantina to the
south side of the building and perhaps having an outdoor kitchen offering
grilled items and street tacos.
For the meantime, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the
restaurateurs have focused on the recipes that travel best for takeout options.
Shrimp is out, for now. The restaurant is currently open with counter service
(customers order at the counter), but with half the seats the establishment has
had in the past.
“Fortunately, the weather’s been good,” Accuardi said,
noting they will not have table side service until the county enters Phase 2 of
the recovery. “The outside seating is proving to be of help.”
Wiese added that they are also operating with utmost concern
for the safety of the customers and employees, “trying to create a great
experience while minimizing contact.”
The pair noted that running two restaurants on the Mountain
offers an opportunity for their employees to work at both. They also want their
employees to use their backgrounds and add to the Burro’s offerings, such as an
infusion of flavors from El Salvador.
El Burro Loco is located at 67211 E. Hwy. 26 in Welches and
hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For more information, call
503-622-6780 or visit www.elburro-loco.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT |
| Aunt B's Bakery ready to roll posted on 07/30/2020
Belinda Torres worked long nights behind the scenes as the
Dragonfly Bakery’s master baker for the last two years. Now she is making good
on her long-standing agreement with the Dragonfly Bakery’s owner Rory Klingbeil
and taking over ownership of the bakery.
“I’ve always been the baker. I opened it from day one,”
Torres said about her involvement with the business. “It’s all me.”
On June 15, Torres became the official owner of the bakery
located at 24525 E. Welches Road. The bakery has been renamed Aunt B’s Country
Mountain Bakery and is now operated with new hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday through Sunday.
“I chose the name cause I’m a country-style cook,” Torres
said. She and Klingbeil opened the Dragonfly Bakery in July 2018 with the plan
for Torres to eventually purchase the business.
“Rory (Klingbeil) called me at two in the morning one night
and said, ‘B you need a bakery,’” Torres said. At the time she was working for
Klingbeil at the Dragonfly Café and Bakery baking pastries and waiting tables.
Torres said she initially didn’t think she could afford to
start her own business.
Klingbeil offered to establish the bakery if Torres would
agree to buy the business after two years of running the operation.
Now as the new owner, Torres continues to work 16-hour days
preparing food for the bakery and supplying baked goods for other local
businesses. Torres runs Aunt B’s with her husband, Tony Graham, who operates
the bakery during business hours.
“It’s a scary process, but I’m excited,” Torres said about
assuming ownership during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an effort to provide fresh-made food at an affordable
price during the pandemic, Aunt B’s offers a “Heat and Eat” menu of take-home
dinners for preorder and pick-up. Preorder options include baby back ribs, pot
pies and chicken and dumplings, as well as a selection of sides and fresh-made
breads.
The take home menu is rotated every ten weeks to include new
additions and the pastry case features new options daily.
“They call me the scone lady,” Torres said, laughing when
asked about her signature baked goods. She added that “cheesecake pillows,” or
cheesecake baked in puff pastry, a “lemonburst” scone and a pound-plus
breakfast sandwich served on a bacon-cheddar-jalapeno biscuit were other
customer favorites that are available daily.
The bakery is currently only offering to-go items due to
social distancing requirements. Torres has seen a steady weekly increase in
take-home orders with new customers coming from nearby communities including
Estacada, Boring and Sandy.
The bakery offers free coffee to on-duty first responders
including local police, fire department and emergency medical technicians.
“We’re there for them,” Torres stated. “They’re out there
doing important things in the community. We feel they deserve something.”
Aunt B’s updated “heat and eat” menu is available on the
bakery’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/greatscones. The bakery can
be reached by phone at 503-564-9285.
By Ben Simpson/MT |
| 10 Years Ago: Sustainability at Timberline posted on 07/30/2020
Timberline boasts 'gold standard sustainability'
Sustainable Travel International bestowed on Timberline
Lodge and Ski Area the honor of being the first ski resort in the world to
receive third-party certification through its sustainable Tourism Eco-certification.
Timberline was recognized for its strengths in the areas of environmental
conservation, cultural heritage, historic preservation and economic
development. Jon Tullis, Public Affairs Director of Timberline Lodge, was
honored by the recognition and pointed to its worldly significance.
"We are convinced that sustainability isn't just a
passing trend,” he said. “We see it as a mega-trend in not just our industry,
but in all of corporate America. It is more of a game-changer than you may
think."
Garth Guibord joins the Mountain Times
The Mountain Times was pleased to report in the Aug. 2010
issue that Garth Guibord had joined The MT as a staff writer, having worked at
The Sandy Post for the previous four years covering news in the local area. Then
editor and publisher Larry Berteau said he felt fortunate to have grabbed up
Guibord.
"We have looked for another writer for some time, but
the unique skills required of an enterprise reporter don't come along very
often," Berteau said. "When Garth became available, I didn't
hesitate. He is a solid writer, a master of Associated Press style, and his
presence on the MT staff will be immediately evident."
Fast forward ten years to the present 2020 and Guibord is
the current editor of The Mountain Times, still providing first rate and
unbiased news coverage, and a solid editorial style contributing to a quality
community newspaper.
Native Plants
The Mountain Times reported on a July workshop hosted by the
Sandy River Basin Watershed Council and the Zigzag Ranger District which
identified invasive plants that endanger the area. The workshop also featured
showy native plant alternatives such as a red columbine to the attendees.
Invasive plants may not seem like much of an issue until you
see an entire field full of Scotch broom or blackberries which create
maintenance problems for homeowners and when they grow in streamside areas,
they can severely degrade fish and wildlife habitat. The ranger district
described a recently discovered two-acre patch of Policeman's helmet next to a
wetland near the Salmon River where the dense thicket of this invader makes it
difficult for native plants to grow on the forest floor, meaning less food and
nesting cover for birds and small mammals.
Policeman's helmet can be thwarted with the planting of
natives like Red columbine, and this bright plant grows up to three feet tall,
flowers in the summer and attracts hummingbirds and produces seeds that are
eaten by juncos and finches.
And in other news...
Ground was broken at the Bell Street property in Sandy where
the new Sandy High School was to be built, Real Estate Broker Cindy Nerison
joined the staff at Merit Properties in Welches, Betsy LaBarge, president/CEO
of Mt. Hood Vacation Rentals, was selected to serve on the Tourism Development
Council of Clackamas County and Sandy Police were busy picking up dinner plates
at local restaurants during the 'Tip a Cop' event which supports the American
Cancer Society's Relay for Life. By Frances Berteau/MT |
|  Photo by Garth Guibord
Approximately 150 people came out on Saturday, June 13 for
Welches Walks for Racial Justice, joining cities across the country and around
the world in a peaceful demonstration in the wake of the death of George Floyd,
a black man killed in Minnesota by a police officer. Welches Schools alumni
Cristina Saldivar, Madeline Kenney, Brooke McAlester, Jenny Covington and Maria
Burke organized the event.
“It was great for us to see that turnout,” Saldivar said.
“It was special for us to see we were not alone.”
The walk began at the intersection of Hwy. 26 and Welches
Road and travelled down Hwy. 26 to Woodsey Way and into the baseball field next
to the school. There, the group knelt for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the
first reported time that the police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck, and then
broke into small groups to discuss race.
The effort started after the organizers recognized a lot of
interest in the community, including seeing Black Lives Matters (BLM) signs,
while also wanting to make a local impact.
“We were feeling very angry and we wanted to figure out a
way to open up this conversation to more people than just our immediate friends
and family,” Kenney said.
The event brought out people from all parts of the Mountain
and beyond, from local families with young children to retired teachers who
once taught the organizers when they were students.
Tom Well, who taught at the Welches School for 32 years
before retiring in 2009, joined the walk while carrying a sign that read “Not
too old to stand up for change.”
“Being the white guy, haven’t really understood the
oppression that a lot of people of color have had to live with,” Well said,
while noting how proud he was of the organizers. “As I’m becoming more educated
and seeing more things happening, it's really opening my eyes.”
Well, who recalled growing up in Portland and seeing signs
on doors such as “whites only” and the Selma march, noted he believes the
global demonstrations seem different this time and real change could be in the
works.
“It needs to happen,” he said. “For me, it needs to start at
the top and we need to have a person that is compassionate about other people,
cares about other people, lift people up and not push them down.”
Bryan Tull, a Brightwood resident who will have two children
at the Welches Schools this fall, noted
that his family comes from a diverse background, including Native
American, Chinese and more, and wanted to stand with the community at the event.
“I feel like we pass off as white,” Tull said. “We’ve been
sitting on our privilege for too long. I wanted to make a difference and show
our kids there’s other people not doing as well as we are.”
Lisa Aschoff, whose husband’s great-great grandfather, Adolf
Aschoff, was one of the early settlers
in the community, noted she grew up in the south where she witnessed racism and
recognized that she needed to step up and join the effort.
“I feel the flame moving around the world,” said Aschoff,
adding that she has a grandchild who has a white mother and a black father.
“It's astounding that we have an ear all across the world. For me to stand back
and not put my energy behind this would be wrong.”
The walk also included Shemar Lenox and Jaylen Welch, both
Gresham residents who have similarly organized an effort in their community to
bring more awareness of the BLM movement, called the Gresham Standup Movement.
They hope to implement changes within the schools, police and more.
“We felt like there wasn’t really anything being done in our
community,” Welch explained, adding that the group plans on more protests this
summer, including going to Washington D.C. in August. “Gresham is very white
populated, and we need the white voice just as much as we need everybody else.
We need change and we need it now.”
Organizers of the Welches Walks for Racial Justice also
created a website, https://welcheswalks.weebly.com/, spearheaded by McAllester,
offering a variety of resources and links to help keep the discussion going.
McAllester noted that the site points people in the right direction to better
equip them for that discussion.
“I just want people to start listening,” she said. “Some
listen to certain voices and not others because it fits the narrative.”
“It's easy to be in our bubbles and surround ourselves with
those who align with those values,” added Saldivar. “There’s so much more we
need to be listening to.”
The organizers of the Welches Walk for Racial Justice hope
to offer more events in the future, including a movie screening and trivia
night.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Hwy. 26 safety corridor expected to be decommissioned this fall posted on 07/01/2020
A safety corridor on Hwy. 26 between milepost 25.2 and 57.45
is expected to be decommissioned by the Oregon Department of Transportation
(ODOT) this fall, although an exact timeline is still unknown, according to Don
Hamilton, ODOT Region 1 Public Information Officer. The corridor was created in
1996 as a tool to help reduce crashes while long-term solutions are being
implemented.
“Safety corridors are not intended to be permanent,”
Hamilton said. “This one was a fairly lengthy one.”
As part of the decommissioning, signs that read “Safety
Corridor” will be taken down and traffic fines will no longer be doubled.
Hamilton noted that the numbers reflect the success of the
corridor and the improvements that have taken place, with 59 fatal/severe
injury crashes occurring in the corridor between 1991-96, but dropping to 25
between 2013-18, a decrease of 58 percent.
ODOT has designated 21 different corridors in the state, and
after the stretch on Hwy. 26 is decommissioned, just four will remain. Hamilton
noted that ODOT continues to monitor what happens in the corridors after they
are decommissioned.
“We are also watching those former corridor areas very
carefully,” he said. “That's a critical part of this, we will continue to
evaluate the safety and prioritize improvements in this area.”
According to ODOT, $65 million has been invested into
improvements on 41.3 miles of Hwy. 26 since 2008, including variable message
signage, median strips and more. Another $4.4 million is expected to be spent
on more improvements in the near future. ODOT is also expected to continue to
fund law enforcement overtime in the area through safety grants.
ODOT also reported that out of the people involved in the
fatal/severe injury crashes on Hwy. 26, more than half involved local
residents.
A safety corridor on Hwy. 26 between Gresham and Sandy had
previously been decommissioned in 2006.
For more information, visit
https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Safety/Pages/Roadway.aspx.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Clackamas County delayed in reopening to Phase 2 posted on 07/01/2020
New modeling of the coronavirus released by the Oregon
Health Authority (OHA) and the Institute for Disease Modeling in late June
revealed it is spreading more rapidly in the state. The model, based on data
through June 18, predicted that daily case levels could rise as much as 20
percentage points.
"We know that COVID-19 is in our communities,"
said Dean Sidelinger, MD, Oregon state health officer, in a press release.
"This latest model provides us with a sobering reminder that we all need
to guard against continued spread, especially as we continue to reopen and the
weather gets warmer.
"Think hard about your choice of activities, especially
as we get close to the Fourth of July holiday,” he added. “Ask yourself: how
can I reduce my risk and the risk I might pose to people around me?"
As of Friday, June 26, OHA reported a total of 7,818 cases
of the coronavirus in Oregon, including 665 cases and 24 deaths in Clackamas
County.
As of Tuesday, June 23, the county had 8.45 trained case
investigators, with eight others hired and in training, and 3.4 trained contact
tracers, with 9.2 others hired and training.
Clackamas County Commissioners sent a letter to Governor
Kate Brown on Thursday, June 18 that requested approval for the county to move
into Phase II of reopening. Brown, however, grouped Clackamas County with
Multnomah and Washington Counties as a tri-county area that must remain in
Phase 1 of reopening until at least Friday, July 10.
“I know this impacts communities and businesses in Clackamas
and Washington counties but, as we reopen our state, we must recognize how
interconnected the metro area is,” Brown said in a press release.
Brown also announced that people in that tri-county area, in
addition to Hood River, Marion, Polk and Lincoln counties, are also required to
wear face coverings while in indoor public spaces, including grocery stores and
other businesses, starting on Wednesday, June 24.
Clackamas County Chair Jim Bernard issued a statement
stressing that the health of the county’s residents remains the top priority
and the county is working to prepare for Phase 2.
“We understand that many are ready to return to normal life,
get back to work, and gather with our friends, loved ones and community,”
Bernard said. “It is understandable that some are disappointed that we are not
moving into Phase II. Yet, we cannot ignore the increase in cases of COVID-19
and the alarming projections of how many more people would get sick if we
continued into Phase II reopening.”
The county reopened its primary service buildings, the
Development Services Building (DSB) and the Public Services Building (PSB), to
the public during limited hours on Monday, June 22. Both buildings are open to
the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday, offering services
including Assessment and Taxation, Business and Community Services and more.
Other county departments continue to offer virtual services.
Residents are encouraged to contact departments regarding services at
www.clackamas.us/departments for clarification regarding open services.
For information on Clackamas County’s preparations to enter
into Phase II visit: www.clackamas.us/coronavirus/reopening.
OHA recommendations on what you can do to suppress the
virus:
– Stay 6 feet away from other people.
– Wear a mask.
– Avoid large gatherings, and if you are in a group setting
(like a holiday barbeque) stay outside,
keep your distance and use a face covering when you’re not eating.
– Wash your hands frequently.
– Stay home if you’re sick.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| The Shack to reopen with upgrades and new ownership posted on 07/01/2020
Welches restaurant and sports bar, The Shack, known to its’
regulars as their “home on the mountain” will reopen following state-mandated
closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic with new ownership.
The bar and grill, located at 67350 E. Hwy. 26 in Welches,
will be taken over by longtime employee Erin Aikens, who tentatively plans to
reopen the bar by early August, along with co-owners Richard Isabella and Will
Allie.
“Frankly, we weren’t up for the necessary rebuild in light
of what has happened to our operating environment,” The Shack’s previous owner
Kim Perry wrote in a Facebook post regarding her decision to sell the business.
“One of our key employees has chosen to step up and take
over. We couldn’t be happier! We now know that there will be continuity and all
of you will be able to continue enjoying the hospitality the Shack has to
offer,” Perry added.
Aikens has worked as a bartender at the Shack for five years
and had right of first refusal to purchase the business. She is a native to the
Mount Hood region who graduated from Sandy High School.
“I’ve always wanted to own a bar,” Aikens said. “It’s been
part of my plan working as a bartender.”
Aikens is partnering with Richard Isabella and Will Allie to
renovate and reopen the business. They plan to renovate the bar and grill
before reopening for service to the public. Planned updates include installing
new floors, deep cleaning and painting.
“It’s a good time to do renovations and spruce (the bar)
up,” Aikens said. The new owners intend to delay reopening to complete the work
to avoid having to reclose for renovations.
“I think it’s a good time to reinvent, so why not,” said
Aikens. “I still want to keep it The Shack. It’s what people expect and love.”
Aikens intends to reopen by Saturday, Aug. 1 at the latest.
The bar and grill will reopen with a shortened menu and with its' hours of
operation reduced to noon to 10 p.m. daily while determining the impact the
pandemic will have on the business.
“We’re rolling with the punches and doing our best,” Aikens
said. “I’m really excited and really scared. I think I’d be apprehensive any
time (opening a first business).”
Other planned changes to the bar include the addition of
live music after reopening. The business had an unused stage that is being
renovated and set-up to accommodate live bands.
“We look forward to having everyone back dancing and
drinking and having a great time,” Aikens said.
More information, including updates about reopening, will be
available on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/The.Shack.Welches/. The Shack
can be contacted by phone at 503- 622-3876.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| BDK is the local go-to for screen printing posted on 07/01/2020
When lifelong board-sport enthusiasts Michael and Tracey
Kays moved to Mount Hood from Hawaii in 2014, they were finally able to achieve
their snowboarding dreams. They settled into their new home in Rhododendron and
cemented their ties to the region by opening their second skateboard business,
BDK Boardshop, in Sandy in 2016.
The couple are now taking on a new venture in the Mount Hood
community with BDK Printwerks, a custom screen printing and embroidery business
they launched in March.
“I’ve been screen printing on the side since the 80s,” Michael
said, explaining he would often print shirts or other goods for local
businesses he frequented or through word-of-mouth. “It just got to the point
where we realized we needed to step it up.”
Michael began screen printing while in the military in
Hawaii and continued printing for his first board shop and skate park on Oahu.
BDK Printwerks specializes in offering screen printing
services to small businesses. The Kays provide personalized service for
companies or individuals in need of customized goods printed in small or large
quantities. The addition of a commercial embroidering department in March
expands the array of goods BDK Printwerks can produce to include hats, beanies,
polo shirts, towels, totes and other goods.
“I’m happy to meet and discuss,” Michael said. “I like that
aspect; we’ll work hand in hand to help a business realize their idea.”
He explained this approach was something instilled in him
through his involvement with the close-knit ethos of skate culture.
In addition to printing, Michael has done design and logo
work and can assist clients in executing their concept for printing on
textiles. There’s a “different method to the madness” when setting a logo or
design up for screen printing Michael explained.
BDK Printing offers custom-designed hats created by Michael
for skateboarding and 914 Porsche enthusiasts available for order through their
website.
There are no minimums for print orders.
“We’re always happy to review a design and put together a
quote,” Michael said.
The Kays officially launched BDK Printwerks in March before
the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the mountain communities.
“We’ve kept rolling through (the shut-down),” Michael said.
The couple plan on finding a shop location in the Mount Hood
region in the near future for the business to house both the printing and
embroidery departments, as well as potential for a retail space.
“We love working with the local community,” Michael said.
Local clients include Mount Hood Roasters and the Mount Hood
Villages. The Kays hope to offer expanded services to existing customers and
bring their hands-on service to new customers in the region.
For more information or a quote contact BDK Printwerks
through their website at www.bdkprintwerks.com or on Instagram at
https://www.instagram.com/bdkprintwerks/.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Hoodland Fire’s accolades, Mountain glass and mustards posted on 07/01/2020
Hoodland Fire earns citation for big night
The Hoodland Fire Dept was presented with a Unit Citation by
The Oregon Fire Chiefs Association for service above and beyond their normal
responsibilities to their community.
The honor was bestowed on the unit for the heroic rescues and
aid given to the community on the never-to-be-forgotten night of Jan. 2, 2009,
referred to as the “big night,” when torrential rain, accompanied by high water
and rapid snow melt caused the Sandy and Salmon Rivers to overflow their banks,
resulting in devastating flooding in the community. It was considered a
100-year flood event.
Hoodland Fire, which normally responds to one or two calls a
day received 21 calls in 24 hours on the first night. State Fire Marshall Randy
Simpson and OFCA President Mark Prince handed out the well-earned citation, and
Explorer scouts were also given district citations for their volunteer work
with sandbagging.
Mt Hood Museum
The Mt Hood Cultural Center & Museum landed a $25,000
contract from Clackamas County Tourism Development and Cultural Affairs after
it turned in the top request for proposal for providing tourism information
services in the Mount Hood corridor.
“I'm pleased, especially that they approved the amount we
asked for,” said Lloyd Musser, curator of the museum.
The three other applicants were The Mt. Hood Adventure Park
in Gov't Camp, Wy'east Book Shoppe and Gallery in Welches and the Sandy Chamber
of Commerce.
Diana's Trading post
Diana Jones, a member of the Portland Rain of Glass, opened
Diana's Trading Post in the Rendezvous Center in Welches for business and gave
residents a blast from the past with her unusual wares. Jones offered antiques,
curious oddities and collectibles, estate sales, gently used and vintage
clothing, and promoted Native American and western art and artists in her
store. The grand opening featured glassblower Joshua Marc Kehrberg of Portland,
and the store often hosted free classes with guest historical speakers.
Native Plants
The fifth in the series of native plants to the mountain in
the Mountain Times featured the invasion of the garlic mustards. The nasty,
persistent plant had been spotted on the Salmon River in Welches.
“Garlic mustard produces chemical compounds that inhibit the
growth of nearby plants,” said Russ Plaeger, then with the Sandy River Basin
Watershed Council. “It's a threat to our native wildflowers.” This shady
character can be found in moist areas in the forest and along streams, roads
and hiking trails where the seeds have hitched a ride on people or deer. When
found, pull the plants by hand, put them in bags and dispose of in the trash
because the plants can still produce seeds after pulling. To avoid confusion
with native fringecup and piggy-back plants, crush a few leaves and the garlic
mustard will give off a strong garlic odor.
And in other news...
The Oregon Trail School District took its third shot at
securing a principal for Welches Schools, after a 10-year hiatus Jason Stoller
returned to Timberline Lodge as its chef and it was reported The Bite was a
huge success raising more than $8,000 for local businesses with The Hoodland
Senior Center netting a $600 donation. By Frances Berteau/MT
|
|  Contributed photo.
When Welches resident Gideon Kasier joined his mother in
their front yard on his seventh birthday on May 1, he expected the somewhat
disappointing chore of pulling weeds to await him.
With the community under strict stay-at-home orders to
prevent the spread of Covid-19, Gideon’s birthday was shaping up to be a quiet
day, without the excitement of friends or a festive party.
The Kasier’s were tending to their yard when their task was
interrupted by a rush of sirens and flashing lights as local emergency response
vehicles from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), the Hoodland Fire
Department and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) began parading down the family’s
street.
Gideon watched with excitement as the procession, led by a
patrol car with a sign in the passenger window that stated, “Happy Birthday,”
slowly passed his home. Members of all three departments waved and a Hoodland
Fire Department truck stopped to lower the boy a gift bag. Gideon was excited
to see the parade included the CCSO’s K9 officer, Grimm, his personal favorite.
“I got my son pretty good. He was not expecting it,” his
mother, Hannah Korpela, said about the surprise parade.
“Gideon’s been pretty isolated because he hasn’t been able
to see his classmates,” she said, explaining the difficulty of celebrating a
young child’s birthday while social distancing.
Korpela contacted the CCSO to inquire about arranging a
parade to make Gideon’s birthday special despite the restrictions of the
quarantine after seeing the department post a similar surprise birthday parade
on their Instagram page.
“I got an overwhelming response from the sheriff’s office
almost immediately,” Korpela said.
CCSO representative Sergeant Marcus Mendoza stated the
department was approached the first weekend of the stay-at-home order to
participate in a socially distanced celebration for another child’s birthday in
the county who was isolated due to the restrictions on group gatherings.
“It hit home. It made me think how (the quarantine) impacts
kids. At a young age a birthday is one of the biggest days of their year,”
Mendoza said. “We’ve been really trying to get out there and help them
celebrate.”
The Clackamas sheriff’s office has participated in more than
20 similar surprise parades for county children during the stay-at-home
restrictions. They have been joined by other county service providers,
including local fire and police departments, the USFS and American Medical
Response (AMR) representatives.
“We were all jazzed about doing it,” said Hoodland Fire
Department’s temporary Deputy Chief Scott Kline about being part of Gideon’s
birthday celebration. “Everyone working the shift (the birthday) was on was
excited to participate.”
Mendoza explained that all participating departments first
priority continues to be responding to calls and emergencies, but that the
departments have been able to make at least an appearance close to the date and
time of most parade requests. He added the CCSO is limiting the appearances to
celebrations for children only.
“It’s a way to show some support for the community and the
kids… to show them that their birthday is important,” said Mendoza.
“We’ve been trying to help with public outreach while keeping
the department safe,” Klein added.
Korpela stated that Gideon was so impressed by the
unexpected visit that he is working on a surprise of his own – thank you cards
for those that participated.
“Gideon still talks about it. He thinks it was the best birthday.”
Korpela said. “Now my youngest is like, ‘What’s going to happen for my
birthday?’”
All departments that participated in the surprise parades
emphasized that their first priority continues to be responding to calls.
Further information or inquiries are requested to be addressed only by email to
the CCSO at sheriffpio@clackamas.us.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Restrictions ease as Clackamas County enters Phase 1 posted on 06/01/2020
Clackamas County joined 33 other Oregon Counties in
reopening on Saturday, May 23, easing restrictions from the coronavirus
pandemic and entering Phase 1 of the three-phase process. Phase 1 includes limited
reopening of restaurants, salons, gyms and malls, along with gatherings of up
to 25 people for recreational, social, cultural, civic or faith events with
physical distancing requirements.
“Thank you, Clackamas County,” said Board of County
Commissioners Chair Jim Bernard in a press release. “Without your incredible
efforts in ‘flattening the curve,’ we would not have been able to move into
Phase 1.”
The county approved its application for reopening on
Tuesday, May 19 by a unanimous vote of the county commissioners. The county
must remain in Phase 1 for 21 days, while state guidelines for Phase 2 were
unknown at the time of press. A future spike in COVID-19 cases could result in
a return to the previous restrictions and closures.
Mountain restaurateurs took the news with a mix of
excitement and concern, including Susie Exley of the Barlow Trail Roadhouse in
Welches. Exley noted that they tried to stay open and offer takeout options
when the pandemic closure began but had to stop because it wasn’t making financial
sense.
Exley added that their hours of operation are yet to be
determined, but she expects to be open from Wednesday to Sunday with limited
options that include the restaurant’s most popular options, such as fish and
chips.
“We just don’t even know how busy or not busy we will be,”
Exley said, adding that her staff is excited to get going again.
She added that her biggest fears include having to go back
to the previous restrictions or having an asymptomatic customer that leads to
people at the restaurant needing to be in quarantine.
“That is what causes me to pause a little bit and not go too
gung-ho,” Exley said. “You just don’t know.”
Tom Anderson at The Rendezvous Grill never fully shut down
his restaurant, despite the challenges of doing takeout.
“Customers have been really good to us,” he said, noting one
benefit of exclusively doing take out is the lack of dishes. “People want us to
be there on the other side and have been very supportive.”
By continuing to operate with takeout, Anderson noted that
he feels the restaurant is in better shape than if he had closed entirely. To
meet distancing requirements, he will have to remove tables to adhere to
guidelines, but he added that the ability to seat customers outside will be a
huge help.
“The outdoors will save us; the timing of it is good,”
Anderson said, adding that costs have gone up due to the pandemic.
Anderson also noted that prior to the pandemic he had
already begun restructuring things, including combining the restaurant’s lunch
and dinner menus. Now that the restaurant is open for customers to eat there,
he expects to only offer lunch on weekends and be open for less hours to start
with.
At the same time, he noted that insurance companies will not
cover issues related to COVID-19 at the restaurant, so he will take things
slowly.
“We are in no hurry,” Anderson said, adding that it has been
hard to sleep at night. “We would love to let somebody else be the guinea
pigs.”
Meanwhile, the Mount Hood National Forest was expected to
reopen most day-use and trailhead sites on Friday, May 29. Several sites,
including most campgrounds, will not open immediately, and a list of opened and
closed sites can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/mthood/conditions.
"We are looking forward to reopening many previously
closed areas on the forest, while prioritizing the health and safety of the
public and employees,” said Richard Periman, Mt. Hood National Forest
Supervisor, in a press release. “We’re asking the public to be prepared, be
respectful of others, and recreate responsibly.”
Some facilities, such as vault bathrooms, may not be
maintained daily. It is recommended that all visitors be prepared to provide
for their own sanitation and be as self-contained as possible while recreating.
Timberline Lodge and Ski Area also reopened last month,
featuring a Covid Response Management Team, Covid employee training and
strategies to keep guests and employees safe and healthy. Guests should be
prepared for limited chairlifts and new processes for parking, lift tickets and
lift lines, while the hotel will only be open to overnight guests and have a
limited number of rooms available.
For up to date details about visiting and recreating
Timberline Lodge, please visit www.timberlinelodge.com.
Despite the lifting of restrictions, a number of annual
events have been cancelled for this summer, including the Mt. Hood Artisans
Market, Clackamas County Bank’s Party on the Patio, Compassion Sandy, Hood to
Coast and the Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum’s Steiner Cabin Tour and
Steiner Society Social.
“The concern for the health of cabin owners, event staff and
tour participants, as well as the uncertainty of the situation, have driven our
decision to cancel,” said Lloyd Musser, museum curator, in a press release.
The Steiner Cabin Tour and the Rhododendron Centennial +1
Celebration have been rescheduled for Aug. 7, 2021.
To find out what businesses in Clackamas County are
currently open, visit https://www.clackamas.us/coronavirus/business or
https://ccgismapservice.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3bcd62a700b945d1b907a28dff29f354
Businesses owners who have questions about their
requirements should visit https://govstatus.egov.com/reopening-oregon#phase1
To view the county’s plan and progress with Oregon state
prerequisites, visit www.clackamas.us/coronavirus/reopening.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Report uncovers many issues with Hoodland Fire posted on 06/01/2020
An Organizational Assessment on the Hoodland Fire District
(HFD) performed by the Special Districts Association of Oregon (SDAO) offered
64 recommendations on six areas of the district: governance, personnel
management, staffing and organizational design, emergency response system,
finances and the training and safety program.
In a letter to the president of the district’s board of
directors, Shirley Dueber, that accompanied the assessment, Consulting Services
Administrator Shanta Carter noted the district faces “Significant financial and
operational challenges unique to your community and District.” The report is
based on visits performed by consultants on March 4 and 5, including interviews
with the Chief, staff, board members and others.
Interim Fire Chief Steven Abel, who started at the position
in early April following Fire Chief John Ingrao being put on administrative
leave pending an investigation, credited the board of directors for seeking a
third party, unbiased report on what needs to be addressed.
“A plus here is that the Fire Board and staff are all
willing to work together to address the identified issues and continue to
provide quality services to the community,” Abel wrote in an email to The
Mountain Times.
The report cites a “great level of tension” between the board
of directors, featuring three new members elected in 2019, and Chief Ingrao,
which it attributed to the board’s desire to better understand the district’s
operation costs. And while the SDAO report stressed it did not “second guess”
the decision made by the previous board and the Chief to implement 24/7
coverage in the district, it did note that consequences from that decision
include the Chief’s position being reduced to half time.
The evaluation team also found a lack of general leadership
and accountability in the district, citing the limitations of a part-time Chief
and the lack of a Deputy Chief position, describing it as a “management vacuum”
and that it created “unsafe working conditions” for district employees. Voters
in the district approved a levy in 2019 to fund a new Deputy Chief, which is
now filled on a temporary basis by Scott Kline until the search for a permanent
Deputy Chief resumes.
The report also highlights concerns about the district’s
apparati and stations, including that the move to 24/7 coverage lead to
defunding the Building and the Apparatus Reserve funds, suggesting that a
decision may need to be made to going back to the voters for further financial
support.
“It will require the District to consider going to the
voters in the future to pass a general obligation bond to purchase new fire
apparatus and building improvements,” the report noted.
The report also notes other problems including a lack of
required financial audits for more than three years, operational guidelines
that have not been met, inconsistent employee evaluations and the lack of an up
to date strategic plan.
The report also highlighted some of the strengths of the
district, including the high level that the EMS program operates on and
maintaining a healthy unappropriated Ending Fund Balance (cited at a little
more than $2.2 million), while also noting the the district’s Training Officer,
Lt. Andy Figini is “motivated and desires to provide a quality training program
but will need the support in his efforts to move the department forward in this
area.”
Abel noted in his email that the district immediately
addressed some recommendations, while most are in process and ongoing. He added
that developing a strategic plan is expected to begin in June, and that the
district is “full speed ahead” and will not be impacted by the current
investigation regarding Chief Ingrao.
“The Fire Board has given me full authority, responsibility
and accountability to address the recommendations,” Abel wrote.
Abel also noted that the report found no evidence of fraud
or misappropriations and that one of the “past” audits is expected to be released
from the auditor’s office within another week. Completing the past audits is
expected to take a few years.
Abel added that the board is “more active in establishing
policies and oversight regarding the Fire Chief, fiscal oversight, and in
establishing overall policy,” including requiring him to provide monthly
updates on addressing the recommendations.
“Moving [at least for now] away from a part-time Fire Chief
to a full-time Interim Fire Chief, there is more ‘oversight’ and accountability
within staff,” Abel noted. “The Deputy Fire Chief position is a great asset, in
that allows us to focus on specific areas to be addressed.”
Abel added that the report is a public document and
available for the asking.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Sandy has its new ‘Happy’ place posted on 06/01/2020
Owner Brie Escalante noted the second location of her Le
Happy restaurant, a creperie and bar in Sandy and located at 38687 Proctor
Blvd., had a busy week after opening on March 8.
“People were excited to have a new concept on the mountain,”
Escalante said. “We’re excited to be here. We think we’re a nice addition to
Sandy.”
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Governor Kate Brown shuttered
all restaurants and bars in Oregon March 16, the Monday after Le Happy’s
official opening. The temporary closure of the restaurant’s bar and dining room
paused the momentum of the new restaurant and has forced the Escalantes to
operate as take-out only while the community has sheltered in place to avoid
the virus.
Now Escalante states her family is “not trying to rush it,”
as the governor begins reopening restaurants for limited dining. She is
cautiously coming up with a plan to reopen the restaurant’s dining room to the
public and will continue to offer take out until the time is right to welcome
back eager Mount Hood residents.
Le Happy opened its first location in Northwest Portland in
2000, while Brie and her husband, Juan, purchased the restaurant in 2015. The pair have lived in Sandy for 16 years
since moving to the region in 2004.
“We always had our intention to open closer to home,” Brie
stated about the decision to open a second location in Sandy. “It’s definitely
our hometown. All our friends and family are here.”
Both locations offer a European-style selection of savory
and sweet crepes and a sophisticated array of craft cocktails. The menu
features a variety of house salads, a top sirloin served with Maison salad and
gorgonzola crepe called “Le Steak” and house-made meatballs in a savory sauce
trio.
Craft cocktails include “Le Rouge Belle,” described on the
menu as a “delicious and dreamy pureed raspberry-lime kamikaze” and “My One and
Only,” a maraschino cherry and vanilla vodka dry martini.
Escalante said that there are plans to expand the menu for
the Sandy location due to the larger kitchen on premises.
Currently the Portland location is closed, and the Sandy
location offers the full menu to-go available on the restaurant’s website for
online orders.
The Escalantes are planning for the reopening of both
restaurants with a focus on providing appropriate personal protective equipment
for staff and a safely sanitized dining environment for guests.
“Health and safety have always been a priority of ours.
We’ve always maintained a hundred percent score with the health department and
we’re happy to continue that,” Escalante said.
Escalante stated the restaurant had trained a great staff
and that she was happy to be able to provide jobs in the community once the
time comes to reopen.
“We’re primarily a family-run business, and we appreciate
all the business during this time. We want to send a big thank you for trying
out a new cuisine and supporting us,” Escalante said about the positive support
from the community.
Current information about the status of the restaurant,
including menus and hours of operation, are updated daily on the restaurant’s
webpage at https://lehappy.com. The Sandy location can be reached by phone at
503-563-7707.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Food box program going strong during pandemic posted on 06/01/2020
Neighborhood Missions, in partnership with the Oregon Food
Bank and the Hoodland Senior Center, has offered a Free Food Market on the last
Monday of each month for a couple years. Their efforts to help those in need in
the community have continued during the COVID-19 pandemic, including providing
food box to up to 75 households (approximately 180 people) last month.
Steve Carlson, who facilitates the market, noted that
despite the onset of the pandemic, numbers of people receiving boxes have not
surged.
“Not as many as I would have anticipated, which has been
surprising to me,” Carlson said, noting that other factors, such as stimulus
checks and unemployment. “As this goes on longer, we may see an increase more
than we have.”
The market, which is open from 9-10 a.m. at the Hoodland
Senior Center (65000 E. Hwy. 26 in Welches), has seen a good number of monetary
donations, which Carlson said could be used to help other programs on the
Mountain that help those with food insecurity, such as Meals on Wheels and the
summer lunch program.
“We’re looking at some ways we can utilize those
contributions in a little wider way,” he said. “We are feeling like that could
be an area where we could have a substantial impact.”
The market has taken steps to adhere to social distancing,
including boxing food for people as they wait in their cars (normally the
market allows people to select items from a table). Neighborhood Missions also
offers assistance with rent, utilities, prescription drug costs and gasoline,
although Carlson noted they have not had a lot of recent requests. To request
aid, call 503-622-9213 and leave a message. Somebody will call back within 24
hours.
Carlson also added that volunteers are welcome to help at
the food market and that Neighborhood Missions has a committee to help with
planning and organizing the effort. The committee meets the second Monday of
every month at 2 p.m. at Hoodland Lutheran Church, 59159 E. Hwy. 26,.
“We always welcome more voices, more ideas to serve the
needy in our community,” Carlson said.
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office also has a program to help
seniors impacted by COVID-19, the Community Care Initiative. It offers food,
medicine and household supplies, along with delivery. Those in need can email
CCIrequests@clackamas.us or call 503-794-8008.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| 10 Years Ago: Elections and a new Mountain wrap posted on 06/01/2020
Election May 2010
At the May primary election 10 years ago, Government Camp
remained un-citified, then Welches Senator Rick Metsger fell short in his
primary bid for state treasurer, John Kitzhaber took a leap forward in his
comeback effort, Jim Bernard held his county seat and Sherry Hall was headed
for a November runoff for the position of County Clerk.
Measure 3-354 would have made Government Camp Oregon’s
newest incorporated city, but it failed, with 58 percent No votes versus 42
percent Yes votes. Sen. Metsger lost the Democratic primary to Treasurer Ted
Wheeler, with Metsger tallying 38 percent of the votes to Wheeler’s 62 percent.
Former Gov. Kitzhaber defeated opponent Bill Bradbury in the Democratic primary
with a 66-30 percent edge and was set to face off against Republican primary
winner Chris Dudley in the November election. County Clerk Sherry Hall was
unable to win the necessary majority despite garnering the most votes and was
also headed to a runoff in the November election against winning opponent Canby
Mayor Melody Thompson.
A nose for news
If you wondered why a bloodhound was working an attentive
crowd for pats and tummy rubs at the Wy’east Book Shoppe, it was because Jeff
Schettler presented his new book “Red Dog Rising,” a riveting true story about
Schettler’s time with the police force and his loyal and courageous bloodhound,
Ronin. Schettler, a retired police K-9 officer, was attached to the FBI’s
Hostage Rescue Teams’ K9 Assistance Program and described how he and Ronin were
involved in hundreds of searches over the years. Sister, an up and coming
two-year-old trailing bloodhound who travels with her owner and handler, Mary
Davenport, to Schettler’s presentations, was soaking up the attention from the
audience.
The proceeds from the book benefit a non-profit organization
founded by Schettler that trains dogs for children with special needs.
Native Plants
The fourth in the series of native plants featured in The
Mountain Times featured the Nootka wild rose and the Red-osier dogwood. The
rose’s pale, pink-to-rose flowers produce orange-to-scarlet hips that are used
as food by grouse, bluebirds, thrushes and many others. Their springtime
blossoms are a showy, deep pink followed by equally showy rose-red hips in the
season. The Red-osier dogwood is deciduous, providing clusters of creamy, white
flowers blossoming in late spring. They give way to white or bluish fruits that
are eaten by warblers and other birds. The leaves provide fall color, food for
butterfly larvae and the nectar is used by adult butterflies. The dogwood is
excellent for stabilizing steam banks.
And in other news...
In an election held May 15, 2010 at the Villages at Mt Hood
Town Hall, Carol Burk and George Wilson were voted to fill two of the open
board positions. A shakeup at the Timberline Rim Board saw six trustees resign,
and co-owners Ryan and Hidee Cummings opened up Wraptitude, a restaurant
located on Hwy 26 across the parking lot from Clackamas County Bank. That’s a
wrap.
By Frances Berteau/MT
|
| Hope spreads throughout community during pandemic posted on 05/01/2020
In the past six weeks, Oregon residents and most of the
nation have ceased many daily activities and sheltered in place in response to
the spreading peril of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time Mount Hood
community members have found ways to offer support, from crafting protective
gear to limit the spread of the virus to offering messages of hope to fellow
community members suffering distress during these difficult times.
Kim Vasquez, a Zigzag resident, knew she was meant to help
when the medical community began calling for support due to a dangerously low
supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the state.
Vasquez began sewing at such a young age her grandmother
would put books under the sewing machine pedals so her feet could reach them.
“I’m a sewer,” Vasquez said. “I by nature always have piles
of fabric for future projects. Then one day it just happens to be for something
that helps.”
After learning of the shortage of PPE in the state, Vasquez
joined the “Crafters against COVID-19 *PDX*” Facebook group. The group was
started on March 18 and currently has more than 8,000 members in the region
producing non-medical grade PPE for use by patients in hospital settings to
prevent the spread of the illness. The group coordinates pick-up of the PPE
produced by Vasquez and other volunteers by the Multnomah County Health
Department for distribution to hospitals.
As of April 17, more than 13,000 masks have been contributed
by volunteers of the group to hospitals in need in the region.
“What I am doing is a very small drop in the bucket,”
Vasquez said. “The people on the front lines are the ones making the big
contribution.
“Making a small contribution to make their lives somewhat
easier is but a benefit.”
Due to a shortage of elastic, Vasquez has switched to
producing “ear savers,” hand-sewn straps that cushion medical grade PPE masks
while wearing to prevent nurses from developing ulcers from the masks.
With the new national recommendations for individuals to
wears masks in public to limit transmission of the virus, Vasquez intends to
produce non-elastic masks for local use. She plans on reaching out to local
businesses with staff that face greater exposure to the public and offering
free supplies of masks.
“Even with the shortage (of elastic) I’ll keep going,”
Vasquez said.
In efforts to support locals dealing with despair brought on
by isolation and the current events, the bells of St. John of the Woods
Catholic Church in Welches and neighboring churches in Sandy have begun to ring
every evening at 6 p.m. Participating churches will continue to do so nightly
for the remainder of the pandemic.
“The purpose for ringing the church bells is to bring
comfort to those in distress, to bring hope to those who have lost all hope,
and to restore faith to those who have lost their way during this pandemic,”
said Ron Le Blanc, parishioner at St. John of the Woods, in a recent press
release.
This nightly ringing of the bells is part of Le Blanc’s
“Bells for Hope” campaign. Le Blanc encourages other churches regardless of
denomination join in a “choir of church bells” to spread hope to community
members feeling isolated.
During an April 16 Clackamas County “Coronavirus Town Hall”
county commissioners praised community members for doing their part daily to
combat the spread of COVID-19 by abiding by state and county social distancing
guidelines.
“I want to say thank you to our constituents. Thanks for
staying home. Thanks for physical distancing,” commissioner Martha Schrader said.
“This is an unprecedented time in the history of Oregon and in the history of
our county.”
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Comment period opens for Summit boundary expansion posted on 05/01/2020
A comment period opened at the end of April, offering the
community a chance to provide feedback on a proposal to expand the boundary of
the Summit Ski Area. R.L.K. and Company, who has operated Timberline Lodge
since 1955, acquired the special use permit (SUP) for Summit in 2018, and the
proposed boundary expansion will create “permitted connectivity,” noted Jon
Tullis, Director of Public Affairs for Timberline.
The comment period will end on Tuesday, May 26.
“This is the first step to set the table,” Tullis said,
describing it as a “mapping exercise.”
In a 2019 Master Plan, future conceptual proposals for the
two areas included a new day lodge, a new quad chairlift, summer activities,
improved parking and transportation solutions and a gondola to offer an
alternative way for visitors to get from Summit to Timberline. Tullis noted
that the plan was put through a robust stakeholder process and built enthusiasm
over the general concept.
The proposed boundary expansion would amend the Summit SUP
to add approximately 206 acres to the permitted area. The expanded boundary
would include portions of the Alpine Trail and historic West Leg Road. There
would not include any ground disturbance or vegetation removal.
“This (boundary) proposal really changes nothing on the
ground,” he added. “We want to hear what the public has to say. The first
indication was enthusiastic.”
To read the scoping letter, visit
https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/mthood/landmanagement/projects. For more
information about the 2019 Summit Master Plan, visit www.summitskiarea.com.
Electronic comments, including attachments may be submitted
to: comments-pacificnorthwest-mthood-zigzag@usda.gov. Due to concerns regarding
the Covid-19 pandemic, electronic comments are strongly encouraged. Written
comments may also be submitted via mail (but not hand-delivered) to the Zigzag
Ranger Station at 70220 E Highway 26, Zigzag, OR 97049.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Summer markets to open with safety in mind posted on 05/01/2020
Two Mount Hood markets are making cautious plans for
returning during the summer season to offer community members access to locally
farmed foodstuffs and artisan goods produced in the region.
Both the Hoodland Farmers Market and the Mt. Hood Artisan
Market are anticipating shortened seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are
planning on opening with a focus on social distancing and ensuring the safety
of the public and vendors at the markets.
“The Hoodland Farmers Market will continue its mission to
bring fresh, real food and locally made goods to the people of Mt. Hood while
supporting local businesses during these unprecedented times,” said the
market’s manager, Lauren Carusona, in a recent press release.
The Hoodland Farmers Market will delay opening from May to
June this year. The farmers market is deemed an essential business during the
pandemic and will return to its previous home in the El Burro Loco parking lot,
67211 E. Hwy. 26 in Welches every Sunday from noon until 2 p.m. starting June
7.
In response to the pandemic, the farmers market will serve
as a place to pick up pre-ordered items and not a place to gather, browse or
socialize in accordance with social distancing guidelines. Customers can
contact individual vendors and arrange to place prepaid orders for pick up at
the market. Contact information for the vendors will be available on the
farmers market’s social media and in an email newsletter.
Carusona stated the market has been researching safe
distancing protocol used by other farmers markets. No money will be exchanged,
a hand washing and sanitizing station will be provided on site and customers
will be required to maintain appropriate distances while picking up preordered
goods.
Carusona highlighted the fact that while the social element
of the market was diminished it was still an opportunity to purchase
nutritious, locally produced food and ensure money being spent was supporting
the local economy.
“The silver lining of this difficult time is that our
community has all that it needs and more and it’s safer,” Carusona said.
The Mt. Hood Artisan Market has six dates planned for the
summer. The first artisan market is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend in the
courtyard at the Mt. Hood Village and RV Resort, 65000 E. Hwy 26 in Welches
with a market scheduled every three weeks through September. The schedule is
currently tentative depending on state guidelines over the following months.
“We hope to provide a safe environment for our vendors to
come out and show their wares,” said market organizer Heidi Flanders. “We want
everyone to be safe during these uncertain times and we’ll follow state mandate
and guidelines throughout the summer.”
The artisan market strives to be a starting point for new
artists and craftspeople in the region who haven’t begun to get their art out
to the community.
The markets saw an uptick in interest from vendors and the
public after operating for two years and organizers hope for the potential for
community members to browse and enjoy entertainment including live music,
vendors samples and other activities later this summer if social distancing
guidelines are reduced.
“We’re looking forward to getting back to having more
community involvement,” Carusona said. “At this time we’re working with the
pandemic and making sure we put safety first.”
For more information about the Mt. Hood Artisan Market email
Heidi_flanders@equitylifestyle.com. More information about the Hoodland Farmers
Market can be found on the market’s Facebook page.
By Ben Simpson/MT
[Editor’s note: following publication in our newspaper, it
was announced that the Mt. Hood Artisan Market has been cancelled for this
summer.]
|
| Sandy Library offers takeout services amid pandemic posted on 05/01/2020
The Sandy and Hoodland Library branches shut their doors on
Monday, March 16 due to the coronavirus pandemic, cutting off the communities
from the services they provide.
But things got a little better on Monday, April 13, when the
Sandy branch started offering take-out services (curbside delivery of items on
hold) on a reservation basis.
“They were super excited to get curbside service,” said
Sarah McIntyre, Library Director of the Sandy and Hoodland Public Libraries,
about the library patrons.
McIntyre added that while they are trying to figure out a
way for the Hoodland branch to start a similar curbside service, Hoodland
patrons are encouraged to visit the Sandy Library until that happens.
To utilize the curbside service, patrons place items from
the library on hold, then can check their library account around 10 a.m. to see
if the items have arrived. If so, they should call the library at 503-668-5537 to schedule a time for pick
up (there are a limited number of pick up spots every 15 minutes).
Patrons are to arrive at their scheduled time and then call
the library from their vehicle, with their library card number handy. Staff
will then take the materials and place them on a table on the west side of the
library, where the patron can pick them up after the staff have safely returned
to the library building.
McIntyre noted that the biggest issue at this point is
people showing up early for their appointment.
“In the real world, it isn’t a problem,” she said. “But if
you arrive early, you have to wait until your appointment time to call.”
McIntyre added that the service should be of particular
importance for people who are outside the Sandy city limits and might not have
good internet service, limiting their ability to download or stream
entertainment.
“Getting DVDs and books into their hands was really
important to us,” she said, adding that it has also been rewarding seeing
parents get out stacks of books to help their kids with distance learning while
the schools are closed.
McIntyre also noted that while they expected to be
overwhelmed, the early days of the service have not been that way. She said
they have yet to hit the maximum number of appointments on a given day, 36, but
that the staff did already know what to expect from the people who have utilized
the service.
“They’re voracious readers,” McIntyre said. “A lot of them
watch a lot of movies and TV on DVD.”
Meanwhile, there are also virtual programs available to
patrons of the library, including Facebook groups for children’s storytimes and
a virtual book group, which will meet online through the internet service Zoom.
The book group’s first meeting is expected to be on May 4 to discuss Jack
London’s “The Call of the Wild.” Contact the library to get a link for the
meeting.
“We’re trying to keep people engaged and let them know the
library is still here for you,” McIntyre said. “Sandy and Hoodland are
wonderful areas. Honestly, we miss them.”
For more information, call the Sandy Library at 503-668-5537
or email libraryassistants@ci.sandy.or.us.
Library phone hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through
Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on
Sunday. The Sandy Library is located at 38980 Proctor Blvd. in Sandy.
The Hoodland Public Library is located at 24525 E. Welches
Road in Welches. For information email hoodlandlibrary@ci.sandy.or.us or call
503-622-3460.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Photo by Peggy Wallace
Paola’s Pizza Barn has fed families in and around Sandy for
generations, while Al Forno Ferruzza is a relative newcomer to the Mountain
pizza scene, opening in Rhododendron in 2016 and quickly gaining a strong
reputation. Last month, the two pizza purveyors joined forces in a reimagining
of the Sandy location, combining the best of both businesses with their
collaboration, Al Forno Ferruzza at Paola’s Pizza Barn.
“People know Al Forno Ferruzza from our shops in Portland
and in Rhododendron, so people were really excited,” said Stephen Ferruzza,
owner of Al Forno Ferruzza. “And then there’s people that have been coming to
Paola’s for 42 years that are willing to try something new.”
Ferruzza teamed up with Denise Overton, who has lived in
Sandy since she was five years old and took over Paola’s a little more than a
year ago.
“I knew the Paolas for a very very long time,” Overton said.
“I just wanted to reopen it and bring back the family name. Leonard Paola did a
lot for the community and the sports teams.”
That community spirit will be at the forefront of the new
collaboration, with the Sandy location offering both of the respective
restaurants’ styles of pizza while melding the recipes of both families and
offering a large space for bigger events and community gatherings, including
local schools and sports teams.
“That’s the goal, to keep the history of a generational
pizza shop,” Ferruzza said. “It’s a family-oriented experience the whole way
through.”
Ferruzza learned his pizza skills from his father, who was
born in Sicily, and he stresses locally sourced and fresh ingredients, fresh
mozzarella and the traditional style of making the dough. His Rhododendron
flagship location is also known for cannolis, strombolis, calzones and some
culinary innovations such as MapleAqua, a lightly sweet and bubbly drink,
produced in the only FDA-approved facility in the Mount Hood Corridor to make
specialty items.
Al Forno Ferruzza at Paola’s Pizza Barn will feature these
dishes in addition to much of what has helped make Paola’s a well-loved
restaurant over the years, including family recipes for meatballs, barbeque
sauce, dressings and the traditional prime rib dinner on Fridays.
Ferruzza noted the larger kitchen at the Sandy location will
offer many more options for the menu, including pasta dishes, wings and
sandwiches on fresh baked bread, along with a remodeled bar.
Last month’s opening was limited to take out and delivery
orders, thanks to the coronavirus outbreak. Ferruzza is experienced when it
comes to opening during challenging times, however, as his first brick and
mortar pizza location in Portland opened during the recession in 2008.
At the Sandy location, they have put food safety protocols
in place that will allow the pizza to not be touched after it comes out of the
oven. And Ferruzza sees a great tasting meal made from fresh ingredients as a
good way to help out when people have to stay at home.
“When you eat something nutritious, you’re automatically in
a better mood,” said Ferruzza, whose first entry into the pizza world was a
food cart with no outside investment that also helped build its reputation at
festivals and other events.
For people who have yet to try one of his pizzas, he
recommended starting with the traditional margherita, while some other
offerings will include a pesto and vegetable pizza with fresh kale.
And when restrictions are lifted, the Sandy location could
offer up live music and other events, including possibly a drive-in theater in
the back and ax throwing. Overton also hopes that an oyster feed, currently
scheduled for Saturday, June 20, will go on as planned.
“Community is more important now than it’s ever been,”
Ferruzza added. “Paola’s is a community center for the town of Sandy. We’re
just going to nourish that.”
For more information, including current specials, or to
place an online order, visit mapleaqua.com. Al Forno Ferruzza at Paola’s Pizza
Barn will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, while the
Rhododendron location currently offers takeout and delivery from Wednesday to
Sunday until restrictions are lifted.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Scott Kline named as Interim Deputy Chief of Hoodland Fire posted on 05/01/2020
With the Hoodland Fire District’s search for a Deputy Fire
Chief delayed due to Fire Chief John Ingrao being on administrative leave and
under investigation, Interim Fire Chief Steven Abel appointed Scott Kline to
the position on an interim basis.
Abel noted the position is just on a temporary basis of up
to six months and that at some point, the district will complete the hiring
process.
“The Fire Chief needs to be able to do that,” Abel said
about the hiring process, noting it was important to move forward with getting
somebody in as the Interim Deputy Chief to help focus on the operational
aspects of the district.
The search for a Deputy Chief began in earnest last May,
when voters passed a bond to fund the position. The search officially opened
last November only to restart in February after not enough applicants came
forward.
Ingrao had indicated he would retire at some point after the
new Deputy Chief was onboard.
The district is also in the middle of its budget process,
moving forward with strategic planning while also anticipating the completion
of an audit report from the Special Districts Association of Oregon.
Abel added that while all this is happening, he has been
impressed with the district’s responders, including the crews that responded to
a structure fire and an “extensive” brush fire in April.
Kline’s new role as Interim Deputy Chief was expected to
begin on Friday, May 1.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| 10 Years Ago: The Bite brought a bevy of fun posted on 05/01/2020
A Century of Brightwood
Brightwood commemorated 100 years of postal history on May
6, 2010 by celebrating at the original Brightwood Post Office (now Mountain
Retreats), and also by ushering in a new postmaster, Aaron Campbell, the 13th
postmaster of Brightwood. A special postmark honoring Brightwood’s centennial
was created by Brightwood artist Sue Allen.
Bite of Mt. Hood
The premier Bite of Mt. Hood, a fundraising event
benefitting the Mt. Hood Area Chamber of Commerce and the Hoodland Senior
Center, took place on May 1 at Mt. Hood Village in Welches. For those who have
sampled the delights of the Bite over the past several years, memories will
linger on for the delicious food and scrumptious desserts provided by local
restaurants, a silent and live auction, and live music. For the premier event,
French troubadour Eric John Kaiser provided a taste of Paris with traditional
French tunes.
Zac Miller – Martial Artist
Zac Miller proved to be undefeated in the art of amateur
cage fighting in May of 2010, having prevailed in his first three bouts for the
Team Quest Fight Club. Miller grew up on the Mountain, from pre-school through
Welches schools to graduating from Sandy High. A large mountain contingent
would accompany Miller to his fights to cheer him on, including his mom, Connie
Miller. “She’s my No. 1 fan,” Miller said. “Besides Nick (older brother), she’s
the loudest one in the crowd.”
Rhody Angler top fly-caster
Mia Sheppard of Rhododendron excelled in the Spey-O-Rama
Casting Festival in San Francisco, and snagged first place in the Spey cast
event. It was fierce competition, with three former champions pitted against
the Mountain angler. The event featured the three ways to cast a fly line: the
roll cast, the overhead cast and the Spey cast. The latter was developed in
Scotland and is the most often used with two-handed fly rods. Be careful if you
try out fly fishing, you could get hooked.
Johnson RV opened
Johnson RV officially opened for business with a ribbon
cutting at their Sandy location. Johnson RV is one of Oregon’s largest new and
used RV dealerships, and for the opening in April, 2010, the guests enjoyed
barbeque in a celebration that included prizes, free gifts and sales.
Native Plants
The third in the series of native plants to the mountain
featured in the Mountain Times featured the enormous Douglas fir, Western
red-cedar and red alder. These are our quiet sentinels, standing tall and
majestic, shading wider sections of our rivers to maintain the cool
temperatures that salmon need to survive. The seeds of the firs and cedars
attract flocks of birds such as grosbeaks, nuthatches and siskins in the
autumn, and birds and flying squirrels nest in the cavities of mature trees
while the deeply fluted bark of the old firs provides habitat for hundreds of
creatures. Given their great size and longevity, it is best to plant these
trees in places where they will have room to grow to their full potential. By Frances Berteau/MT
|
| Coronavirus impacts all facets of life on the Mountain posted on 04/01/2020
Restaurants, businesses and organizations throughout the
community mirrored life around the world when they shuttered their doors last
month as COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, became a pandemic.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order on Monday, March 23,
closing non-essential businesses, prohibiting large gatherings and limiting
social contact between people.
“It is essential to the health, safety, and welfare of the
State of Oregon during the ongoing state of emergency that, to the maximum
extent possible, individuals stay at home or at their place of residence,
consistent with the directives set forth in my Executive Orders and guidance
issued by the Oregon Health Authority,” Brown said in a statement.
Some impacted aspects of Mountain life include the closures
of schools, parks, playgrounds, ball fields and sports courts in the Oregon
Trail School District until at least Tuesday, April 28, closure of the Bureau
of Land Management’s developed recreation facilities (including Wildwood) and
the closure of all campgrounds, day-use sites, trailheads, Sno-Parks, fire
lookouts, OHV areas, ski areas (and ski area parking lots) and other developed
recreation sites in the Mt. Hood National Forest (MHNF) through at least
Friday, May 8.
Heather Ibsen, Acting Public Affairs Officer for the MHNF,
noted in an email to the Mountain Times that while developed trailheads are included
in the closures, trails are not. But she added that people are encouraged not
to head to the forest to recreate.
“Across the region, we are asking people to please delay
travel to outdoor destinations as much as possible,” she wrote. “We’ll still be
here when it’s much safer for all of us. Time outdoors is important for mental
and physical health, but for right now, please explore your neighborhood and
follow the (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines on social
distancing.”
MHNF offices are conducting public business by phone, email
or web-based transactions. Latest updates and information can be found online:
www.fs.usda.gov/mthood.
The impact of the closures was evident everywhere, not just
in the signs in the windows of businesses, but in the number of newly
unemployed people. During the week of March 15, the Oregon Employment
Department (OED) received more than 76,500 initial claims for unemployment
insurance benefits, and during the first three days of the week of March 22,
initial claims have been tracking at record levels again.
OED had received just 4,900 initial claims filed during the
week of March 8.
In response to the pandemic, OED enacted temporary rules to
give more flexibility in providing unemployment benefits to COVID-19 affected
workers, including for employees whose employer stops operation for a short
period of time, such as cleaning following a coronavirus exposure or by
government requirement.
Workers can also get unemployment benefits and do not need
to seek work with other employers if their place of employment will resume
operations. To receive benefits, affected workers must still be able to work,
stay in contact with their employer and be available to work when called back.
Information for filing an online claim and a full resource guide with questions
and answers about specific COVID-19 coronavirus-related situations and
unemployment benefits is available at Oregon.gov/employ.
In another effort to help Oregonians maintain social distancing
and avoid the coronavirus, people who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) benefits can now purchase groceries online from Walmart and
Amazon. People may be eligible for SNAP if their work hours are reduced or they
lose your job. For more information, visit OHP.Oregon.Gov or
https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/Offices/Pages/Self-Sufficiency.aspx.
Taxpayers will get an extended amount of time to file both
state and federal tax returns, with the date moving from April 15 to July 15
(for more information, to check the status of a refund, to make payments or get
forms, visit www.oregon.gov/dor/), while the Oregon Department of Consumer and
Business Services issued a temporary emergency order requiring all insurance
companies to extend grace periods for premium payments, postpone policy
cancellations and non-renewals and extend deadlines for reporting claims.
In support of COVID-19 response, the Oregon Office of
Emergency Management and the State Emergency Coordination Center have
established a webpage where Oregonians can submit requests to donate services
or supplies, volunteer to support or to engage in a business relationship with
the state at https://oregon-coronavirus-geo.hub.arcgis.com/. The biggest need
right now is for Personal Protective Equipment, such as masks, gloves, and
gowns.
The City of Sandy offers resources and information on the
pandemic, including links to local and national organizations, area closures
and ways to access essential services at https://www.ci.sandy.or.us/COVID-19Information.
Mountain residents can also find help through Neighborhood
Missions, a community outreach program sponsored by Hoodland Lutheran Church
that provides assistance for those in need. For more information on
Neighborhood Missions, visit http://hoodlandlutheranchurch.org/neighborhoodmissions
or call 503-622-9213.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Fire Chief John Ingrao put on admin leave posted on 04/01/2020
The Hoodland Fire District’s board of directors placed Fire
Chief John Ingrao on administrative leave last month until an investigation can
be completed. Board chair Shirley Dueber noted there was no further comment on
the investigation or what prompted the decision, but stressed to the community
that the district will continue to serve the community without restrictions.
“Everything will run as normal,” Dueber said. “There will be
absolutely nothing for the community to worry about. The district is covered
and will stay that way; we have good crews and they know their job.”
Dueber added that the board hired Steven Abel to serve as
Hoodland’s interim fire chief, who will start April 1. Ingrao took over as the
fire chief in January 2017 after serving as Deputy Chief since 2011.
Ingrao’s leave occurs when the district is in search of a
new Deputy Chief, thanks to a bond passed by voters last year to fund the
position. Ingrao had indicated he would retire at some point after the new
Deputy Chief was onboard. The search, which opened last November only to
restart in February after not enough applicants came forward, will now be
delayed.
“I’m not sure of ramifications for deputy chief, but I think
it will be on hold,” Dueber said, noting that the district had received
applicants.
Dueber added that the board is also currently grappling with
a new budget and is waiting for an audit report from the Special Districts
Association of Oregon, which was performed over the course of about a month and
examined all of the district’s responsibilities and activities.
“We’ve got all kinds of things on the table that need to be
taken care of,” Dueber said, noting that the audit was done because they want
to “make sure they were well covered in every department.”
Dueber added that the board also promoted Scott Kline to
Battalion Chief last month.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Contributed photo.
An enthusiastic group of visually impaired athletes enjoyed
the sensation of gliding down the slopes at Mt. Hood Meadows ski resort on Saturday,
March 7 as part of the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) final
ski event for the winter season.
The NWABA hosted nine ski events during the winter season of
2019-20, pairing blind athletes with Mt. Hood Meadows instructors for adaptive
lessons. For many of the participants these lessons where a first-time
opportunity to experience skiing, while for others it was a chance to revisit a
cherished activity they enjoyed before the loss of vision.
“I never had the chance (to ski) when I was fully sighted
because I never lived by mountains before,” program participant Anita Thomas
said. “For someone who started two years ago and being 70 years old, it’s
terrific fun. It’s worth getting up at five or earlier in the morning.”
The NWABA provided all equipment, slope access and
transportation from Vancouver or Portland for the two-hour events. The
organization partnered with Mt. Hood Meadows to provide one-on-one guidance for
the athletes from resort instructors who have received training as part of the
resort’s adaptive skiing program.
The adaptive training allows instructors to make snow sports
accessible to people of all abilities. The instructors assist individuals with
visual, cognitive or physical impairments in closely guided lessons or snow
sport sessions.
“It’s very similar to how we teach an average snow sport
lesson, but the coolest part of it is how it emphasizes strong communication
and really listening to the individual,” said Emily Hearle, training and
adaptive supervisor for Mt. Hood Meadows.
The NWABA is a Vancouver-based nonprofit organization
founded in 2007 with the mission of offering “life-changing opportunities
through sports and physical activity to individuals who are blind and visually
impaired.” This winter marked the fifth year the organization has hosted ski
events.
“We had close to full rosters for all our ski events this
year,” said Mary Holmes, programs specialist for the NWABA.
“It’s a great experience. We’ve seen a lot of growth with
the athletes coming back and doing the program each year,” she added. “People
have a good time on the slopes with the instructors from Mt. Hood Meadows;
they’re very knowledgeable. We definitely want to continue the program next
year.”
In addition to skiing the NWABA offered a winter snowshoeing
program in Eugene this past season and hopes to expand it to Mount Hood next
year.
With the ski season completed, the NWABA will soon offer
spring programs for blind athletes including hiking, tandem bicycling, stand-up
paddle boarding, kayaking and a running program.
For more information, visit www.nwaba.org or
https://www.skihood.com/en/lessons-and-rentals/adaptive-lessons.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Park district vote pushed back a year due to virus posted on 04/01/2020
Members of the Hoodland Park District Committee decided to
push back an effort to put a taxing district on the November ballot due to
restrictions placed on the community from the coronavirus outbreak. To be on
the ballot, committee members needed to submit a petition signed by 15 percent
of the registered voters (750 signatures from 4,886 voters) within the proposed
district to Clackamas County Elections by Thursday, May 7.
“Therein lies the rub,” noted the committee’s co-chair,
Marci Slater, in an email to the Mountain Times. “In light of the Social
Distancing regulations now in effect
this task is not physically possible.”
Slater added that the county cannot legally postpone the
deadline.
The committee has targeted the May 2021 election for the
proposed district, which would assess a tax of 54 cents per thousand dollars on
homes within the boundaries. That rate would generate an annual assessment of
approximately $165 on a home valued at $300,000.
Slater also noted that the committee requested the County
Commissioners and Clackamas County Parks and Forests to extend a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) regarding the parcel of land across from the Welches
Schools (the former Dorman Center site) that will be used for the park until
May 2021. The MOU, which gifts the deeds of three parcels of land, had set to
expire at the end of March 2020.
If the district fails to be approved by voters, the land
will be sold by the county for development.
Residents of the park district were also expected to vote on
candidates for the Park District Board on the November ballot. The board will
manage park development projects, the district budget, apply for grant funds
and determine from community input the facilities available at the new park.
“We are committed to this project and will continue to work
toward our goal of a Hoodland Park District dedicated to the recreational needs
of all Hoodland area residents,” Slater wrote. “Thanks to everyone who has
supported this project thus far. We are grateful and depending on you to help
us going forward.”
For more information, visit www.2020parkvision.org and
www.hoodlandwomensclub.org.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Dollar General looks to add location on the Mountain posted on 04/01/2020
A new Dollar General Store could appear in Welches sometime
in the next four years, following approval of the design proposal by Clackamas
County late last year.
“The development is free to move forward meeting these
conditions,” said county Senior Planner Martha Fritzie. She added the design
review process was past the appeal period which ended in December.
The addition of the Dollar General has received some
criticism from local residents who feel the county is leaving community voices
out of development decisions. Notice of the application was sent to property
owners within 300 feet of the intended development’s property lines.
“We need to change the zoning laws so that when the
community is going to be impacted there is public notice, preferably written up
in the paper,” said Meredith Sanders, a Welches resident for 16 years. “We
don’t get a say in what’s going on with development on our mountain.”
The approximately 7,500 square foot retail store will be
constructed at 70140 E. Hwy. 26 on a parcel of land zoned for Rural Tourist
Commercial (RTC) use.
Retail stores are permitted as a primary use on property
zoned RTC in the Clackamas County Zoning and Development Ordinance (ZDO).
“If the code allows for certain uses then the use is simply
permitted,” said county Senior Planner Glen Hamburg. “The area for the proposed
development has been zoned RTC for a long time.”
The future sight of the Dollar General Store is bordered to
the east and west by other RTC properties, one of which is a Subway restaurant.
The property is bordered to the south by Hoodland Park and across Hwy. 26 to
the north by properties zoned for residential use.
The application to develop the retail space for the Dollar
General Store was submitted to the county’s planning and zoning department’s
design review committee by Brad Krem of Embree Asset Group and Scott Franklin
of PacLand. Representatives from the Embree Group did not respond for a request
for comment in time for publication.
The Clackamas County website states the purpose of design
review is to “ensure developments meet the needs of the community by complying
with all applicable codes and zoning regulations.”
The design review committee determined that the design for
the retail space complied with all applicable codes and zoning regulations and
approved the plan for the store under the condition that the land use follows
plans filed with the county on Oct. 7, 2019, participate in a “post land use
transition” meeting, and submit a statement of use form to calculate applicable
System Development Charges prior to applying for building permits.
More information about the design for the new Dollar General
Store is available online at https://www.clackamas.us/planning/designreview.html.
More information about county zoning is available at
https://www.clackamas.us/planning/zdo.html.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| 10 Years Ago: Mt. Hood Green Scene is born posted on 04/01/2020
Successful schussers
The Mt. Hood Race Team, competing against 25 teams from
Oregon, Washington and Idaho, nabbed a second place overall at the Buddy Werner
Championship Ski races held at Skibowl. Mt. Hood racer Luke Winters, 12, of
Gresham, swooped to first places in the giant slalom and slalom, capturing the
boys overall individual champion trophy for the second year in a row, and
Shannen Burton placed third overall in the girls' individual score. In team
competition, the girls took home the second-place trophy and the boys placed
third. Girls team members were Shannen Burton, Ashley Lodmell, Orianna Galasso,
Kayla Lanker, Teagan Estelle, Graeson Fish and Katherine Dean, and the boys
team members were Luke Winters, Cody Winters, Nate Gunesch, Luke Musgrave,
Hunter Kern and Sam Flecker. A.J. Kitt, four-time Olympic skier, inspired 260
of the Pacific Northwest's top ski youth racers at the opening ceremonies.
A new Green Scene
The Mt. Hood Green Scene, spearheaded by Doug Saldivar,
hosted its first recycling fair in April at the Welches Middle School, offering
recycling opportunities for the community that included everything that lurks
in the storage shed. "The goal is to build community awareness," said
Saldivar, who estimated the turnout at the fair to be more than 400. At the
day's end, almost 7,000 pounds of recycled goods were collected, including 160
pounds of discarded batteries, 400 pounds of cardboard, 60 pounds of scrap
metal, 150 tires, 12 cubic yards of styrofoam and 140 fluorescent bulbs
containing mercury. The event was sponsored by the Sustainable Hoodland Network,
the Villages at Mt Hood and the Clackamas Office of Sustainability. Saldivar, a
member of the board of Directors for the Villages at Mt. Hood, secured $3,500
of funding from Portland Recycling to pull off the event.
Runner up for Best Tasting Water
The Rhododendron Water Association received second place for
Best Tasting Water in the state of Oregon at the Oregon Association of Water
Utilities annual conference in Bend. The Rhododendron Water Association's David
Jacob accepted the award, plus a "Special Service" plaque for
exemplary service during the association's crisis the previous November when a
giant Douglas fir smashed through the filtration unit during the rainstorms of
late autumn.
Pacific ninebark and twinberry honeysuckle
The second in the series of native plants to the mountain
featured in the Mountain Times were the Pacific ninebark and the twinberry
honeysuckle. The ninebark flourishes on the mountain and is spotted by its
clusters of white flowers, while the less frequently seen twinberry has to be
enjoyed close up, showing off its blooms of small, yellow flowers. Both plants
provide good erosion control along streams and can be successfully
transplanted. Ninebark's seeds provide food for birds and mammals and the plant
can grow to 15 feet. The twinberry is a fast-growing plant that can reach eight
feet tall and has black, bitter berries. Some Northwest native peoples had
taboos against eating them, and the Kwakwaka'wakw believed that if you ate the
berries you would be unable to speak.
By Frances Berteau/MT
|
| Volunteer rescuers shocked after Sheriff changes SAR posted on 03/01/2020
In a letter to Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers, Clackamas
County Sheriff Craig Roberts announced changes to the operational structure,
including bringing volunteers under a single and unified county team and
creating a non-profit for the county’s SAR efforts.
“In the wake of recent litigation, at the recommendation of
my county counsel, and after a comprehensive study, I have decided to make
these changes,” Roberts wrote in the letter, noting the study was conducted by
retired Undersheriff Matt Ellington.
“This reorganization is in line with state law that governs
Search and Rescue in Oregon,” said Oregon Office of Emergency Management State
Search and Rescue Coordinator Scott Lucas in a press release after the letter
had been made public. “It’s considered best practices, as it follows the
Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Advisory Council guidelines.”
The new structure is a departure from the way SAR operations
have been handled in the county, which included a variety of citizen volunteer
groups such as Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue (PNW), Portland Mountain
Rescue (PMR) and Mountain Wave Search and Rescue (WAVE). Some members of those
organizations expressed surprise and dismay at the decision, including Mark
Morford, Rescue Leader and Board Member of PMR.
“Mount Hood is an expert environment,” Morford told the
Mountain Times, noting that team identity is an important aspect in SAR
operations and his organization has built a national reputation for excellence
since it began 40 years ago. “Why would you possibly throw that away and try to
build something like that at taxpayer expense, that’s crazy.”
Russ Gubele, President of WAVE, said he was “disappointed
and frustrated” about the decision, noting that a recent lawsuit over a rescue
on Mount Hood had to do with a dispatch delay and not the volunteer teams.
“You have the best of the best in Clackamas County,” Gubele
said, adding that citing the lawsuit for the change is “crazy.” “It seems
unbelievable that you would want to dismantle that and start over with
something new.”
As part of the restructuring, Roberts assigned Deputy Scott
Meyers to SAR on a full-time basis and also assigned Lt. Brian Jensen as the
new supervisor to oversee SAR. A subcommittee of experienced SAR volunteers
will be formed to help determine logistics and develop short-term and long-term
strategic plans.
A press release added that further details on the new
structure would be revealed in the coming months.
The Mountain Times requested more information on the
transition time for the new SAR operations, any budget ramifications from the
change and if there will be any impact on the Sheriff’s Office’s ability to
perform other duties in the county following the personnel shifts, but did not
receive any response.
The Sheriff noted that volunteers who are certified by the
Oregon State Sheriff’s Association can volunteer with the CCSO’s new structure
through an application process, with a deadline of Tuesday, March 31.
Morford noted that the 75 members of PMR were unanimous in
wanting to remain with the organization.
“Right now, our members are committed to staying together as
a unit and working with the Sheriff to reach objectives while maintaining
identity as a team,” he said. “Whatever the state of this discussion is, PMR is
going to continue to train, we are going to keep our morale up and we are going
to respond every time the sheriff asks us to respond to Mount Hood.”
Morford also suggested that recent conversations with the
CCSO could yield a compromise, which appeared to be reached as of Wednesday,
Feb. 26, when a press release noted PMR and CCSO “arrived at a mutual agreement
in principle on general terms for a closer relationship between” the two
organizations.
“This partnership will strengthen our existing integration
of personnel and resources, and will make planning and mission response more
efficient,” the groups announced in the press release. More details are
expected to be released as discussions continue.
Gubele added it is hard to tell how many of WAVE’s
approximately 100 members would be interested in applying for the county’s new
SAR team.
“Nobody’s really saying one way or another, I suspect not a
lot of people will,” Gubele said, adding that the organization was founded in
the wake of the Oregon Episcopal tragedy on Mount Hood in 1986 and performs a
variety of roles in the county and with other nonprofits and counties. “Anybody
that has not been favorable or supportive of what is going on is likely not
going to be accepted anyway.”
“For time being, we are all here and can be called upon,” he
added. “We’re ready to go.”
CCSO Sergeant Marcus Mendoza noted in an email to the
Mountain Times that the county is prepared to fulfill the obligation of SAR
operations, which is a state mandated function of the CCSO.
“I want to make this clear to the public that if a SAR were
to occur today the Sheriff’s Office is prepared and will respond as we have
countless times in the past,” he wrote.
Hoodland Fire Chief John Ingrao told the Mountain Times in
an email that the change in CCSO’s SAR operations would have no impact on their
response.
“We provide the same level of response as we always have and
we work well with CCSO on all emergency responses the two agencies have in our
District,” he wrote.
Current Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association (OSSA) SAR-card
holders interested in becoming members of the new team can complete a volunteer
application and background-check process at
https://www.clackamas.us/sheriff/sarteaminvite.html. The deadline for
applications is Tuesday, March 31.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Town hall highlights plan for Hoodland Park District posted on 03/01/2020
The Hoodland Women’s Club hosted a town hall meeting on
Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort to present plans for the
creation of a Hoodland park district to fund a new park in Welches. The meeting
was attended by approximately 50 people.
The women’s club intends to circulate a petition and gather
750 signatures, or fifteen percent of the 4,886 registered voters in the
proposed park tax district, to qualify the initiative to appear on the ballot
in November 2020.
Clackamas County Commissioners Jim Bernard, Ken Humberston
and Martha Schrader attended the town hall in support of the creation of the
park district.
“Your vision is to have children playing in a park. That’s
one of the most beautiful visions you can have as a citizen,” Schrader said
about the development of a community space at the site formerly occupied by the
Dorman Center across from Welches Schools.
The creation of a Hoodland Park District will allow
Clackamas County to gift the deeds of three parcels of land along Salmon River
Road, including the Dorman Center site and the current community garden space,
to the district for the formation of a park.
If the district is not passed on the November ballot the
land will be sold by the county for development.
“Now is the time to preserve and protect lands and assets in
your community,” Humberston said. He cited population growth in the county and
an increase in related development as factors that will limit the availability
of land for public spaces. “It’s not like you’ll get a second bite at the
apple. It’s beneficial to you and future generations.”
Park District Committee Co-Chair Marci Slater stated the new
district will be funded by a property tax of $0.54 per thousand dollars of
assessed property on homes located in the park district. This rate represents
an estimated annual assessment of $165 on a $300,000 home and will provide the
district with an estimated budget of $500,000 beginning in 2021.
“Your local tax dollars will stay local, and not be managed
by the county or state,” Slater said. “The district will provide the community
with a vehicle to form its own recreational spaces.”
Slater stated the majority of the funding for the park will
come from grants and low-interest loans the community will become eligible for
with the formation of the new district.
Park district committee member Bonnie Hayman emphasized the
value of the land promised by the county, citing the purchase of similar
acreage by the City of Bend for the development of a community park for $1
million. She stated the in-kind land donation would qualify the district for
grants it would not otherwise have access to.
“The tax base in the district is absolutely necessary to get
(the park) started. It is the heart but not the muscle that will drive the
project forward,” said park district committee member Cyndi Dyal about the role
grants and other sources of financing will have in funding the park.
Community members in attendance raised concerns about
parking, traffic, insurance costs and potential for drug and criminal activity
associated with the new park. Some questioned the need for an additional park
with existing assets such as Wildwood Recreation Site in the community. Others
voiced concern over what type of development would occur if the plots were sold
by the county.
Many in attendance voiced support for the proposed district
stating the benefits the infrastructure will bring to the community.
“You may not be using the park, but you’re still benefiting
as part of the community,” said Tamara Lundberg, a resident of Sandy who owns a
second home in the proposed district.
Park district committee member and legal counsel Gary
Linkous stated that from preliminary polling the committee had received enough
positive community response to move forward with attempting to get the
initiative on the ballot in 2020.
Linkous added that the county has been a great resource for
the formation of the district. “The county has basically told us, ‘If you want
us to help you, we’ll show you how to play in your community and we’ll give you
the land,’” he said.
Residents of the park district will also vote on candidates
for the Park District Board on the November ballot. The board will manage park
development projects, the district budget, apply for grant funds and determine
from community input the facilities available at the new park.
For more information about the park district, visit
www.2020parkvision.org and www.hoodlandwomensclub.org.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
|  Tagg.
Tagg, a two-year-old black Labrador, faced his first
difficult assignment within weeks of being sworn in as the Gresham Police
Department’s premier comfort dog.
Tagg accompanied police officers to Dexter McCarty Middle School
in Gresham after a child was struck and killed by an impaired driver while
walking to school on Jan. 6. He was there to comfort classmates as school
administration announced the tragic death of the student.
“It was amazing to see the calming effect Tagg had on the
kids,” Public Information Officer Benjamin Costigan stated in an email.
Tagg is the first comfort dog in Multnomah County and one of
a select few in the Pacific Northwest. He was sworn in by the Gresham Police
Department on Dec. 17, 2019 as a member of the department’s employee wellness
program. In his role with the department, Tagg helps support the health and
well-being of officers and community members. He will be present for victim and
witness interviews, go to non-active police calls and provide support after
stressful situations.
“Dogs especially work well when interviewing children,”
Costigan noted about one of Tagg’s many roles interacting with the community.
As part of the employee wellness program, Tagg provides
emotional support for officers who face stressful situations on a regular
basis. Costigan stated that studies have shown that having a dog around can
lower blood pressure, improve cardiovascular health and have a calming effect
on people dealing with stress.
The Gresham police decided to incorporate a comfort dog to
their employee wellness program after Police Chief Robin Sells learned of the
success of similar programs in police departments on the east coast.
"Officer and employee wellness has become a top
priority for us,” Chief Sells said. “The donation of this comfort dog will
benefit the entire department and we are so grateful for our donors."
“We were very fortunate to have Tagg donated by Guide Dogs
for the Blind, his preventive vet care by Banfield Pet Hospital, emergency vet
care by VCA Animal Hospital, food from Nutro and training from Dove Lewis,”
Costigan stated. “The Gresham Police Officers Association donated to help with
upfront costs. Many members of the public have donated to his care as well.
Without their help this would not have been possible.”
Tagg was bred by Guide Dogs for the Blind specifically to be
a guide dog. After being born in California, he went to live with puppy raisers
in Reno, Nevada prior to coming to Oregon to finish his schooling at the Guide
Dogs for the Blind campus in Boring.
In order to be considered for his career change Tagg had to
meet specific requirements.
“We wanted a dog that is easy to handle and solid in the
environment they are working in that still has that confidence and really
enjoys meeting people,” said James Dress, Dog Placement Manager for Guide Dogs
for the Blind. “We were looking for a dog that’s inviting to people. We really
liked Tagg’s temperament for the position.”
In addition to his training as a guide dog for the blind,
Tagg has received his American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen training
certificate. He is currently in the process of therapy dog training with the
goal of becoming a certified therapy dog.
“The main goal was to find a dog who would provide comfort
and emotional support for the officers,” Dress said. “Due to his excellent
handler and his temperament (Tagg) has very quickly been able to do more and make
a difference in the community.”
Tagg will make appearances at events like Coffee with a Cop,
City Fest and visits to schools and nursing homes.
Costigan added that Tagg has adapted very well to his new
position. Tagg accompanies Costigan home every night and returns to work with
him in the morning.
“He works regular hours just like a normal employee. Except
he gets to sleep at work sometimes,” Costigan said while laughing. “Everyone
has welcomed him with open arms. He is excited to come to work every day and
greet everyone. Officers, records staff and administration alike.”
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Sandy High teams finish season without home pool posted on 03/01/2020
Last May, the Sandy Pool closed its doors as the City of
Sandy looked to refine its vision for the pool, part of a larger Sandy
Community Campus project. That closure left the Sandy High School (SHS) swim
and water polo teams without a home pool, but did not stop them from competing
this winter.
The two teams, which wrapped up their seasons last month,
practiced at an outdoor pool at Mount Hood Community College (MHCC) and held a
number of “home” games at other schools, including Parkrose and Barlow. That
lead to more travel for the teams and the athletes dealing with colder
temperatures during practice times.
“I’m sure that the coaches and kids would say that in a lot
of ways it was more difficult,” said Garet Luebbert, SHS Athletic Director.
“They did okay; better than last year.”
Mountain resident Gretchen McAbery, who had two children,
Emma and Griffin, on both teams this year, noted the practice pool was heated,
but that many parents bought their kids parkas to stay warm between the locker
room and the pool, adding that the parents were concerned about the situation.
“We don’t like that the kids are having to swim outside,”
Gretchen said. “The fall wasn’t bad, being outside was actually a beautiful
thing.”
Emma, a senior who joined the water polo team her sophomore
year and the swim team her junior year, noted a number of differences from past
seasons, including getting home later due to the travel and dealing with the
rain during some practices, plus a practice that was cancelled due to the low
temperature. Despite the challenges, she added that the situation might have
provided advantages, such as the practice pool having two deep ends and athletes
treading water the entire time, but also disadvantages, such as younger players
not learning how to stay in control.
“I don’t think we were behind (other teams),” Emma said,
adding that it was disappointing to have “Senior Nights” (a designated home
match for sports teams that typically offers a great deal of support from
friends, family and more) located in other communities.
Griffin, a junior who has done water polo all three years in
high school and joined the swim team for his sophomore year, added the locker
room situation was not ideal, as most team members brought their stuff outside
with them for safekeeping. That led to occasions where their belongings got wet
from the rain.
Despite the challenges, Griffin plans on participating next
year even if the practice situation remains the same.
“You’d have to cut my legs off not to do water polo,” he
said.
Luebbert noted that he expects to move forward with an agreement
with MHCC for next season, while making sure they have “something to fall back
on” and that they will watch Sandy’s decisions with their pool “very closely.”
“(Our parents’) voice and their concern for continuing
strong aquatic sports needs to be heard at the city level,” he said, adding
that SHS enjoys a strong water sports community that sticks together and has
done a lot to keep the sports alive.
Emma, who will go to the Cascades Campus of Oregon State
University this fall, noted she wants the programs to continue for her friends
who are sophomores and freshmen.
“I want them to continue to play,” she said. “I want people
to still have those opportunities.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Govy fire station ready for responders and visitors posted on 03/01/2020
For years, a remodeled fire station in Government Camp has
been on the wishlist of the Hoodland Fire District (HFD). Now, with work complete,
the station is ready to serve as the base for three student residents, who will
help reduce response time and provide greater coverage in the community.
“The ability for Hoodland Fire District to project staffing
and emergency response to the Eastern most environs of the District has a
dramatic impact on the Citizens and visitors we protect,” wrote HFD Chief John
Ingrao in an email to the Mountain Times. “The staffing of the station may at
times reduce current response times by 20 (minutes) and provide a faster level
of service for medical emergencies, traffic accidents and fires. Currently all
District responses come from the Welches Main Station and the response times
are dependent on weather and road conditions as to arrival times.”
“In addition, staffing of the Government Camp station allows
the District to ‘have a presence’ in the Community that has been lacking for
many years,” Ingrao added. “The goal is to provide the same level of service
throughout the entire District providing Public Safety as the District’s Prime
Goal.”
The remodeled station, located at 87600 E. Government Camp
Loop, will be opened to the public at an open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, March 7, featuring self-guided tours, a chance to meet HFD staff and
volunteers, information on volunteer opportunities and refreshments.
Matthew Garcia has volunteered in the district since 2019
and joined the student resident program in 2019. He will serve as the station’s
Building Manager and noted that the program now includes three students who
work 48-hour shifts alongside the district’s paid staff.
“We are essentially the fourth body on a shift,” Garcia
said, adding that each shift includes one student resident at the Welches fire
station.
The remodel at the station primarily consisted of interior
portions of the living quarters, including the living room, kitchen and
bathroom. The work included gutting the walls to the studs due to a water
incident a few years ago that created mold behind the drywall, Garcia noted.
“It needed some love and care,” said Garcia, who is enrolled
in the College of Emergency Services in Clackamas. “I think this remodel is
really what’s going to make it comfortable for the students living there.”
The students will be at the Government Camp station when they
are not on shift or at school, where they will be available for calls. Two
vehicles will be housed at the station: a brush rig with advanced life support
(the residents will be able to help prep patients before more help arrives on
the scene) and an engine for structure fires and motor vehicle accidents.
Garcia added that the resident program helps solve one of
the difficulties with Government Camp: the challenge of finding volunteers,
largely due to the numbers of seasonal residents.
“Because there’s not volunteers in the area, there’s no
response in the area,” he said. “The big picture is to get this ball rolling so
we can start to add on to the students.”
Garcia added that he hopes community members will stop by
during the Open House and will also feel comfortable dropping by at other times
with questions or just to say hi.
“We just really want to be a resource for them when we are
available,” he said.
For more information, visit www.hoodlandfire.us.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Imagination Library offers a head start for kids posted on 03/01/2020
Since the Oregon Trail School District (OTSD) joined Dolly
Parton’s Imagination Library program in 2013, 452 children have enjoyed a free
book every month until they turn five, according to Pat Sanders, who
coordinates it in the district. Globally, the program has given away more than
100 million books, with operations in the United Kingdom, Australia and beyond.
“We’ve done really well,” Sanders said of the local effort.
“We could still do more. (There’s) a whole group of children that hasn’t been
reached.”
The program is free and families can sign up children who
are under the age of five through the OTSD website, oregontrailschools.com
(under the “Families” tab, located in the upper right). Every month, a free
book gets mailed to the child, ranging from picture books to the traditional
last book for a child’s fifth birthday, “Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come,”
by Nancy Carlson.
Sanders, who served as the principal at Kelso Elementary
School in Boring and has had three of his own grandchildren take part in the
program, noted that children who are exposed to books before kindergarten
arrive at school with skills and abilities that will help them get a jump on
their education, including identifying sight words, phonics and even knowing
how to properly hold a book and recognize where the title is.
“When they get to kindergarten, they definitely have an
advantage over kids who don’t have books available,” Sanders said.
He added that numbers in the OTSD have gone up and down
through the years, with 162 children currently involved. One of the more recent
books, Ezra Jack Keats’ “The Snow Day,” proved to be an appropriate one for his
grandson, who was getting ready to go up and enjoy some snow on the Mountain.
The Imagination Library is sponsored by the Oregon Trail
Education Foundation (OTEF) and can also be supported by area residents by
signing up for the Fred Meyer Community Rewards program and AmazonSmile.
All funds contributed through Community Rewards and Amazon
Smile go directly to the Imagination Library program. OTEF is a private,
independent, voluntary organization that supports students, teachers and
families of the Oregon Trail School District.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| BODY WORLDS returns to OMSI posted on 03/01/2020
Trigger your curiosity and discover the mysteries and magic
underneath your skin with a trip to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
(OMSI). OMSI's latest exhibit offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of
the human body.
On Saturday, March 7, OMSI will host the Pacific Northwest
debut of Gunther von Hagens' “BODY WORLDS & The Cycle of Life.” This
well-renowned and popular anatomical exhibit has attracted more than 50 million
people globally and is the third time a BODY WORLDS exhibit has been featured
at OMSI. All specimens presented in the exhibition are preserved through
plastination, a scientific process invented by pioneering anatomist Dr. Gunther
von Hagens in 1977.
"We are thrilled to once again bring BODY WORLDS to the
Pacific Northwest," said Nancy Stueber, OMSI president in a press release
to The Mountain Times. "This extraordinary exhibit will offer our visitors
a unique experience and spark conversations about the many changes experienced
during each phase of life and highlight the steps we can all take to remain
fit, healthy, and active."
The 10,000 square-foot exhibit is designed by BODY WORLDS'
creative and conceptual designer Dr. Angelina Whalley, director of the
Institute for Plastination.
"Dr. von Hagens originally developed plastination as a
way to teach people about the human body and show its full potential,"
Whalley said. "Today, BODY WORLDS & The Cycle of Life is the perfect
way to use this science to showcase the beauty of the human body and reveal the
secrets of vitality, longevity and well-being."
More than 100 specimens have been specially curated for this
exhibition, and visitors will see individuals' organs and systems as well as
full-body plastinates in various poses including football players and gymnasts.
The plastination process replaces the natural fluids in the
specimen with liquid reactive plastics that are hardened and cured with gas,
light or heat. Before hardening the plastic in the specimens, the plastinates
are fixed into extraordinary, lifelike poses, showing how we internally respond
to activities in our everyday life. The specimens in the exhibit come from an
established donation program that relies on donor consent.
BODY WORLDS & The Cycle of Life runs March 7 through
Sept. 13.
OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue, Portland,
503-797-4000.
Tickets can be purchased online at omsi.edu, via phone at
503-797-4000 or in person at the museum.
Due to tremendous public interest, advance ticket purchase
to BODY WORLDS is recommended.
By Frances Berteau/MT
|
|  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, b |
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