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| 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, but that “we just want people to do it appropriately,”
he said.
The efforts to reverse the damage along the Salmon River and
elsewhere in the forest have included cleaning and dismantling the abandoned
illegal campsites and supervising several re-vegetation projects along the
banks of the river, while also increasing enforcement and spreading information
through local businesses. A number of agencies and organizations have
participated in the efforts, including interns from Oregon State University,
forest staff and volunteers, who worked throughout the summer of 2017 to clean
up and naturalize over 40 sites along the river and West Leg Road and Old Maid
Flats. They encountered “camping villages,” where illegal campers had erected
walls and awnings, along with water systems and walkways.
Other groups who have helped with the efforts include
Clackamas County Dump Stoppers (who pick up illegal dump sites), Tread Lightly
(who developed markers, graphics, electronic materials and more as part of a
social media campaign), the Sandy River Watershed Council, Vive NW, the
National Forest Foundation, fifth grade students from the Oregon Trail Academy,
Ant Farm, Wilderness Volunteers and more. Meanwhile, as part of the increased
emphasis on dispersed recreation, recreation staffing was doubled from 2018
levels for the 2019 season, resulting in more visitor contacts, increased
public education and more trash being removed from the forest.
“We’ve seen a lot of successes,” Westbrook said. “We go into
camps now and they’re a lot cleaner, folks are moving around more (and) they’re
paying more attention to human waste.”
This winter, Westbrook noted that an environmental
assessment will be done with an eye to make the closure in the Salmon River
area a permanent one, adding that the area is so sensitive that it takes a
higher level of management. He also noted that the Forest Service hopes to
provide additional restroom facilities at areas with higher use, and he hopes
that visitors will take their own initiative and be responsible for their
dispersed activities.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Chamber welcomes new president posted on 10/01/2019
Mike Miskowicz got right to work volunteering in the
community after he and his wife Lyn began residing full-time in Rhododendron in
2017 in a Steiner cabin they have owned for more than 15 years.
Now, Miskowicz will serve as the new president of the Mt.
Hood Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, after being named to the
position at the Sept. 3, 2019 chamber meeting.
Three other new board officers were also announced at the
meeting.
“You’ve got to be involved to expect change,” Miskowicz said
about his belief in the importance of civic participation.
Miskowicz assumed the responsibility of chamber president in
addition to his current roles as co-chair of the Rhododendron Community
Planning Organization (CPO) and member of the board of the Rhododendron Water
Association (RWA).
He has been involved in the community as a volunteer for the
REVEL marathon, as well as this year’s Huckleberry Marathon, and is an advocate
for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Miskowicz began volunteering at the community level in 2014 by
serving as the vice-chair of his homeowner’s association while living in
Minneapolis, Minn.
He described his involvement in community organizations in
the Mount Hood area as a “natural transition” due to the influence of his
neighbor Steve Graeper, Chair of the Rhododendron CPO. Miskowicz became
involved with the CPO after meeting Graeper and quickly became vice-chair,
while attending Chamber meetings on behalf of the CPO during the summer of
2018.
He was encouraged by Coni Scott, former vice president of
marketing for the Chamber, to run for president in July. Voting by incumbent
board members took place in August. Miskowicz and other new board officers
began their terms in September 2019.
“They’ve been very supportive,” Miskowicz said of the
established board members, including former board president Jeri McMahan during
his transition. “(The board) has a good team concept.”
McMahan will continue to offer her expertise and experience
as an associate director of the board.
“Our new board brings new energy and great enthusiasm,”
McMahan wrote in an email to the Mountain Times. “I hope to see chamber
membership continue to grow and promote the business community.”
Miskowicz noted the upcoming goals for the Chamber include
increasing membership of local businesses and making efforts to unify the
businesses in the community.
The organization will also pursue the return of “The Bite of
Mt. Hood,” an annual food and drink festival held in April that features local
restaurants. Miskowicz described this as part of a strategy to incorporate
event-based efforts to promote local businesses.
His other expectations of his new role as president include
a concerted effort by the Chamber to bring businesses together to focus on
mutual areas of concern and interest.
Miskowicz describes these goals as ways of “teaching (local
businesses) to work together,” to promote commerce in the region.
Miskowicz will serve as the president until September 2021.
Other new board members are Vice President of Marketing
Brittany Allen, Secretary Barb Bresseon and Project Officer Steve Carlson.
The Mount Hood Area Chamber of Commerce meets on the first
Tuesday of every month at the Mt. Hood Village RV Resort, 65000 Hwy. 26 in
Welches, and can be contacted by phone at 503-622-3017 or by email at
mthoodareachamber@gmail.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| ‘C’ is for more than just ‘cookie’ posted on 10/01/2019
For on-the-go people during the hectic holiday season, those
cherished cookies loved by your family and friends may take a back burner.
But it doesn't need to be that way, even if you are too busy
to make fresh cookies yourself. Neighborhood Missions annual fundraiser for
pre-ordering your cookies is currently underway, running from Tuesday, Oct. 1
through Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Myke Jagow, who has spearheaded the Neighborhood Missions
cookie fundraiser for the past five years, explained her flair for baking and
wanting to lend a hand.
"I have a gift for baking," Jagow said. "This
project provides money for those who need just some help; be it gas, help with
rent, wood, etc. when the month is too long for their paychecks."
Cookies are available in five mouthwatering flavors: choose
from chocolate chip oatmeal, old fashion ginger molasses, peanut butter crunch,
triple chocolate or white chocolate and cranberry oatmeal.
A special request can also be made if your favorite is not
among this list.
Each batch sold is made fresh for specific orders. The cost
for a batch of approximately 60 cookies, which are baked, double-wrapped and
labeled for your freezer and delivered, is $29. Or, if preferred, the cookies
are ready to serve in a box or on a platter. Perfect for your holiday party or
family get-together when serious cookie munchers are present.
100 percent of all money collected from the cookie sales are
gifted to Neighborhood Missions who assists those in need or who find
themselves in economic difficulties with food, firewood, utility and rent
payments, repairs, transportation, medicines and more.
In 2014, the first year of the cookie fundraiser, Jagow
handed over approximately $945, and last year an impressive figure of $1,251
was raised.
Jagow's initial grocery list for the cookies is impressive:
50 pounds of flour, 40 pounds of white sugar, 31 pounds of brown sugar, 34
pounds of oats, a whopping 74 pounds of chocolate chips, 12 pounds of plums, 10
pounds of raisins, 45 pounds of butter and 15 dozen eggs. If orders warrant,
the list grows.
Jagow receives some assistance from volunteers to help fill
orders for the cookies, and those that have helped in previous years are
usually Hoodland Lutheran Church members.
To order your cookies or for more information, call
503-622-5558, or e-mail Myke Jagow at ncaofo@hotmail.com.
By Frances Berteau/MT
|
| Arrah Wanna pushes forward with renovations posted on 10/01/2019
The sounds of top hits from prior decades will provide a
fitting accompaniment to Camp Arrah Wanna’s “The Generations of Promise”
Banquet and Auction held at the camp’s historic lodge on Saturday, Oct. 12. All
proceeds of the evening will provide funding for an ongoing campaign to
renovate the camp’s facilities and ensure the continuation of the camp’s more
than 78-year tradition of providing a place of respite and development for
generations of campers.
“The goal (of the fundraiser) is improving the facilities
for the next 75 years of use,” said Laura Young, executive director of the
camp. “It should be a really fun night.”
She noted the evening will offer community members and
donors a fun-filled night in the camp’s facilities including dinner, an open
bar, live and silent auctions, raffles, games and a live band. She added the
event was an opportunity for people to learn more about the camp’s history and
future impact while enjoying a meal prepared by the camp’s food service staff.
Tickets for the event are $60 per person and include dinner
and two drink tickets. Doors to the banquet open at 4:30 p.m., with the bar
opening at 5 p.m. and dinner served at 6 p.m. Entertainment and auctions will
occur throughout the evening.
The auction will include items such as vacation packages to
regional resorts, artwork, locally produced woodworking, massage gift
certificates, surf lessons in Lincoln City and gift baskets donated by
community businesses. The camp is auctioning off a pool party to be hosted at
their facilities in 2020 as well as VIP lodging on the campgrounds. For sports
fans, a variety of Portland Trail Blazer memorabilia will be available at the
auction, including a ball autographed by the 2018-19 roster.
The non-profit camp, conference and event center was
established at its current location by The American Baptist Churches of Oregon
as a nonprofit camping ministry in 1941. The camp describes its ongoing goal as
“providing a beautiful, peaceful and safe environment where people can
experience the transforming power of love and find support through positive
relationships and activities.”
The camp has completed phase one of the restoration process
which involved modernizing the second floor of the historic lodge and hiring a
full-time Program and Marketing Director. Funds raised by the banquet and
auction will be used to improve staff housing, continue renovation of the main
lodge and update Judson Lodge, including making the restrooms ADA accessible.
“We’re constantly trying to figure out how to make the
facilities more accessible,” said Young, adding that the camp hosts many groups
with disabilities.
Young stated the camp hopes to host 150 guests at the
banquet and auction.
Camp Arrah Wanna is located at 24075 East Arrah Wanna
Boulevard in Welches. Tickets to the
event can be purchased online at www.camparrahwanna.org.
By Ben Simpson/MT
|
| Dental clinic returns in Sandy, offering free services posted on 10/01/2019
Tami Beaty had seen the impact that dental clinics in large
cities could make after she and her husband were part of some.
So last year they started one in Sandy, offering free dental
work on a first-come, first serve basis. And the clinic will return this year,
scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6 at the Sandy Seventh-Day
Adventist Church, 18575 SE Langensand Road.
“Our church has just really been a strong force, trying to
reach people in our community with their health needs,” said Beaty, noting that
they have taken part in the past with Compassion Sandy, a one-day health
clinic.
The dental clinic’s offerings will include exams, digital
dental x-rays, extractions, fillings, cleanings and more, although no services
are guaranteed.
Beaty expects to have eight dentists, five dental hygienists
and a “good number” of dental assistants on hand in the hopes to serve more
than 100 people.
There are no requirements for patients, and Beaty noted that
last year she saw people come from Albany and Vancouver, Wash. as part of the
86 people who came to the clinic.
“For our first year, I thought that was pretty good,” she
said.
Beaty encourages people who want to take advantage of the
services to get there early, noting that she has seen people line up for
clinics as early as 4 a.m. to be sure and get a spot, adding that she feels for
the people who need to do so.
“It hurts your heart to see people go to these means to get
care,” Beaty said. “It’s a good thing we can help them.”
Next year, Beaty hopes to add the opportunity for people to
get crowns.
She also noted that the church has other health-related
offerings, including “Diabetes Undone” and a depression and anxiety seminar run
by her husband.
“We’re just really excited to be helping,” Beaty said.
Visit sandyadventistchurch.org for more info.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Christopher Marley.
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) welcomes
the exhibit "Exquisite Creatures" for its Oregon debut, running from
Oct. 5 through Feb. 17, 2020.
"Exquisite Creatures opens the door to a variety of
complex topics by highlighting nature's inherent beauty and design," said
Nancy Stueber, OMSI president and CEO in a press release to The Mountain Times.
"This exhibit is a stunning and insightful way to show that art, science
and nature are very much linked together and does a great job at making those
topics accessible to audiences of all ages."
Exquisite indeed, this awe-inspiring exhibition showcases
the amazing gifts of world-renowned artist, naturalist and New York Times
bestselling author Christopher Marley, who has made it his lifelong passion to
reveal the obscure beauty in nature and preserve specimens of insects and other
life as three dimensional art. Guests to the exhibit will experience the
ancient connection between art, nature and science, where Marley taps the
natural world as his medium.
Marley explained he was born with a passion for
"monsters," so reptiles were his earliest and most natural love.
"I spent the majority of my childhood outside looking
for snakes and lizards and raised a number of different species into
adulthood," Marley said in an e-mail to The Mountain Times.
"Thankfully my parents were very tolerant of my reptilian pursuits."
When traveling and living in Asia and South America, Marley
developed his passion for insects. As a young man, Marley had pursued a career
in fashion while studying art and design, and it was on a fabric sourcing trip
in Bangkok that he found himself exploring a night market, coming across a
group of disabled locals selling cheap frames crammed with the "craziest
beetles I'd ever seen." Marley was enthralled with being able to examine
the huge insects up close.
Later, while working in Cape Town, South Africa, Marley was
really moved by how conscientious residents were about incorporating the
natural world into their designs and homes. After returning to Los Angeles,
Marley was determined to create a living space for himself that was an homage
to nature.
Marley possesses one single beetle from the Mount Hood area
in his entire exhibit of thousands of specimens, caught by his son, which is
included in the largest insect mosaic he has ever made.
"There is so much beauty all around the Northwest, but
as my area of expertise has historically been the tropics, I am only now really
starting to discover some of the beauty in my own back yard and am absolutely
loving it," Marley said. "The rock hounding and fossil collecting
here is particularly wonderful."
Raised in the Pacific Northwest, and growing up as a
self-described “OMSI kid,” Marley portrayed his field trips in grade school as
absolute highlights, and no trip to the zoo was ever complete without also
spending hours across the parking lot in OMSI.
Although Marley has been exhibiting all over the world in
over 500 galleries and special exhibits for two decades now, he said he had
very few opportunities to do so in Oregon.
"To be able to finally come home and exhibit in the
very place where my love affair with nature and science began is absolutely
thrilling," Marley said. "I'm so looking forward to it."
All of the organisms used in Marley's work are either
reclaimed (in the case of vertebrates) or sustainably obtained (in the case of
insects), using a worldwide network of people and institutions that share his
passion for nature, and frequently offers an alternative to ranching or farming
for often impoverished people with few options for sustenance other than
working the land.
OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue, Portland,
503-797-4000.
Information available online regarding exhibit hours and
admission prices can be found at the museum’s website, Omsi.edu.
By Frances Berteau/MT
|
| Expanded Mt. Hood Express routes prove their worth posted on 10/01/2019
Two additional runs for the Mt. Hood Express bus service
have seen good results since they started in April. Muna Rustam, Transit
Program Administrator for the City of Sandy, noted that the two runs totaled
278 passenger rides in April, followed by 294 in May and 400 in June.
“We expected that there would be this need,” Rustam said. “A
lot of workers heading up to Timberline needed the midday service.”
That midday service leaves Sandy’s Operation Center at 11:15
a.m., reaching Timberline Lodge at 12:30 p.m. and then heading back. The other
additional run, part of the Villages Shuttle route, leaves the Operations
Center at 6:45 p.m. and includes a stop at Sandy High School before reaching
its terminus in Rhododendron at 7:25 p.m. and then returning.
The additions were made possible by a new state employee tax
that was passed in 2017, which dedicated the money to enhance current service
or start new service. The Mt. Hood Express conducted a survey to learn what
times would be the highest priorities for ridership.
Rustam noted that adding the stop at the high school is also
a benefit to the riders.
“That (Villages Shuttle) run makes an extra stop at Sandy
High School, so if there are events students want to get to or get home from,
they can utilize that,” she said. “So many people needed to get into town and
get back in the evening. We definitely knew it would be utilized.”
Rustam added that the tax collected goes into the community
where it was drawn from to help fund things on a local level. She also noted
that a transit master plan that will encompass all of Clackamas County is in
the works, with the goal of promoting connections between cities, possibly
putting a regional hub on the mountain to make other connections, such as to
the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River, while the Mt. Hood Express is expected
to receive two new busses in the near future.
“The mountain route is pretty rough on the buses,” Rustam
said. “They have a shorter lifespan than most busses would.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Proposed park.
Representatives from the Hoodland Women’s Club (HWC) kicked
off a two-month community polling process at the Tuesday, Aug. 6 Mt. Hood Area
Chamber of Commerce meeting as part of the grass roots initiative to form a new
Hoodland Community Park District for the funding of a new park in Welches.
Regina Lythgoe, HWC committee co-chair for Hoodland Park
District, noted the park district would be funded with property tax dollars
from residents in the district as well as grants. She stated the current
estimated tax rate would be between $0.49 and $0.54 per $1,000 of assessed
property value, with an estimated annual assessment of $150-165 on a $300,000
home. The tax base would create an estimated annual budget between $480,000 and
$520,000.
“It could be the jewel of the community,” Lythgoe said. “It
will be built for the safety of children and community to go outside and
recreate.”
This presentation was the first of several the HWC is
holding around the mountain through September to discuss potential plans for
the park and to take a poll of public sentiment regarding the proposed tax
district.
“Formation of the park district requires an initial
expenditure of considerable time and money,” the HWC explained in information
accompanying the poll. “The HWC is
willing to take on this task, however, we want to be certain this is deemed to
be a worthy cause and one that will be supported by local residents.”
The potential park tax district will use the same district
lines as the Oregon Trail School District 46.
The park was first proposed when Clackamas County offered to
gift the deeds to three parcels of property on Salmon River Road in Welches for
the formation of a community park. The
parcels include the former site of the Dorman Center across from Welches
Elementary School and the current community garden space. The county can only
deed land to a government or a public entity such as a park district.
The HWC has secured a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from
the county for a deed transfer for the three parcels upon the establishment of
a funded park district with a governing board in the November 2020 elections.
If the district is not established the county will sell the property to the
highest bidder.
The HWC consulted with the Mackenzie Group, a regional
design firm that created a park design proposal to conduct a feasibility study
and determine costs for initial development and long-term maintenance of a park
in the community.
Some features of the proposed park include a pavilion,
amphitheater, skate park, dog park, play area, expanded community gardens, and
walking path with an accessible inner loop. The park would also require
restrooms, lighting, parking with shuttle drop-off, benches, kiosks and bike
racks.
The Mackenzie Group’s proposal noted, “Using a comparative
analysis, the park design could cost between $3 million and $5 million in
today’s construction market.” The proposal cited excavation, grading and the
skate park being major cost leaders.
“We’ll be frugal with
the tax money,” Lythgoe said. She added
the park will be managed by a board of locally elected members and will create
jobs in the community.
If enough of the community shows favorable interest in the
park a petition will be circulated to get the park district, the tax base for
the district and nominated board members on the ballot for November 2020.
Lythgoe said the petition will need support from 750 voters
in the proposed district and the HWC will need to submit the petitions to the
county clerk’s office by March 2020 to get it on the ballot.
The HWC will be presenting the park proposal at the
Rhododendron CPO meeting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, in the public
meeting room of the Hoodland Fire Station, 69634 E. Hwy. 26 in Welches.
For more information regarding the Hoodland Community Park
District visit www.2020parkvision.org. The HWC welcomes courteous public input
both positive and negative by email at hoodlandparkdistrict@gmail.com,
www.hoodlandwomensclub.org or www.2020parkvision.org.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| ‘All Mountain Cleanup’ aims to give Mount Hood a fresh start posted on 08/31/2019
One of the mountain’s biggest volunteer stewardship events
just got bigger. This year’s Timberline to Troutdale cleanup series will gather
in Government Camp and spread out across Mt. Hood on Saturday, Sept. 21,
marking the first All Mountain Cleanup.
The new vision: to clean up the whole mountain, all at one
time, building a lasting practice for the entire year.
“Garbage, unfortunately, doesn’t respect watershed
boundaries and accumulates downhill and downstream,” said Jocelyn Gary,
director of the Mount Hood Institute. “Those of us who go to Mount Hood for
recreation, exploration and solace need to contribute to its stewardship.”
“Rivers on both sides of the mountain flow to the Columbia
and then the Pacific,” added Steve Wise, Executive Director of the Sandy River
Watershed Council (SRWC). “It’s great to have all the resorts working together
to remove contaminants at the headwaters.”
The All Mountain Cleanup, held on Saturday, Sept. 21, is
paired with the popular Lower Sandy River Floating Cleanup on Saturday, Sept.
14.
With more than 100 volunteers regularly joining past
cleanups at Timberline, organizers are recruiting for up to 300 participants
this year on Sept. 21. Volunteers will meet at Summit Ski Area at 9 a.m. for
refreshments before shuttling or carpooling to Mt. Hood Meadows, Timberline or
SkiBowl. Volunteers may also choose to stay at Summit and help clean up the
Village of Government Camp. This year’s cleanup also has added an exciting
component, partnering with Northwest Trail Alliance, to lead a mountain bike
ride down the Timberline to Town Trail to remove trash there as well. The event
concludes with a large group photo at 1:30 p.m. and an after party at the
Ratskeller, 88335 Government Camp Loop in Government Camp, hosted by 10 Barrel
Brewing.
Past cleanups have hauled as much as four tons of trash out
of the canyon and slopes at Timberline. Glaciers there serve as the headwaters
to the Salmon River providing key spawning grounds for wild fish.
The terrain is varied from steep and uneven, to flat and
easy; all ability levels and ages welcome. Volunteers are encouraged to bring
sturdy footwear, work gloves, a water bottle/coffee mug and appropriate
clothing for mountain weather. Carpool options have been set with Get There
Oregon at: https://getthere.rideamigos.com/#/events/5d601d932d3bff236657a39b.
Or take a ride with Portland’s favorite shuttle to Mount Hood; GREEN DREAM BUS.
The downriver floating cleanup will gather at Lewis and
Clark State Park near Troutdale at 9 a.m. Saturday Sept. 14, then shuttle
volunteers to Dabney State Park to board rafts and float the lower river. No
previous rafting experience is necessary, and personal floatation devices,
paddles and other gear are provided free of charge.
“This is a great entry level opportunity for folks to get
out on the water for a gentle float, and also contribute to a cleaner Sandy
River,” Wise said. “The more we learn about the effects of plastics and other
trash on fish, birds and other aquatic life, the more important it is to get
the trash out of our rivers.”
Volunteers who want to participate in the floating
cleanup can register at
www.solveoregon.org. Volunteers may bring their own floatation or can reserve
one of the limited raft seats at www.eventbrite.com.
The City of Troutdale continues its sponsorship of the Lower
Sandy River Cleanup, guided by Stout Creek Outfitters. SRWC is also partnering
with Vive NW this year to make outdoor stewardship more accessible to diverse
audiences and encourages Spanish speakers of all levels to attend.
Both the Float and the All Mountain events are part of the
SOLVE Fall Beach and River Cleanups and are free and open to the public. Additional partners and donors include: Timberline, Summit Ski Area, Mt Hood Meadows
Resort, SkiBowl, the Mt. Hood Institute, USDA Mt. Hood National Forest Zigzag
District, Village of Government Camp, Portland Mountain Rescue, Northwest Trail
Alliance, Timberline Mountain Guides, Mt. Hood Ski Patrol, Vive NW, The
Mountain Shop, GREEN DREAM BUS, TREW, Oregon State Parks, SRWC, Voodoo Donuts,
Mt. Hood Coffee Roasters, Sisters Coffee, New Season and 10 Barrel Brewing.
Please register to participate at www.solveoregon.org or
contact mthoodinstitute@gmail.com or sara@sandyriver.org for more information.
By Sara Ennis/MT
|
| County unveils short-term rental regulations posted on 08/31/2019
Clackamas County Planning Division presented a draft of
potential regulations for Short-Term Rentals (STRs) on Aug. 6 to the Board of
County Commissioners (BCC). The draft allows the controversial STRs in any
legal, permanent dwelling in unincorporated Clackamas County, while STRs will
be registered with the county, with properties that are rented for less than 30
days a year to be exempt from the registration. Proposed registration would be
valid for two years and the fee for the registration will be established by the
BCC.
“Currently the county has no regulations that are specific
to STRs, and the county’s zoning code is silent on the question of whether
short term rental of dwelling units is permitted,” said Jennifer Hughes,
Clackamas County Planning Director during the meeting. “The goal of this
project is to answer that question one way or the other, and if we’re going to
allow them then to regulate them through a registration process.”
The Planning Division defines STRs as “a short-term rental,
or vacation rental, is a dwelling unit, or portion of a dwelling unit, that is
rented to any person or entity for a period of up to 30 consecutive nights.”
The county planning division conducted a public outreach
program, including public meetings and surveys throughout the months of March
and June. On June 11 the BCC requested
the planning division proceed with a first draft of regulations in the county
code in order to allow and regulate STRs following a review of the public polls
and input.
The regulations limit maximum overnight occupancy for STRs
in the county to two persons per bedroom/sleeping area plus two additional
persons with an exemption for children under two years of age. Maximum
occupancy for the rental properties is not to exceed 15 people total.
Off-street parking is required for the STRs with one space required per 2
sleeping areas with a minimum of one space. Properties can be listed with a
reduced maximum occupancy if parking is limited.
The proposed regulations also cover mandatory safety
elements needed for the STRs. Working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide
detectors are required to be installed and maintained in all sleeping areas and
in the kitchen. Two working fire extinguishers are required per rental
property.
Other regulations include pool and hot tub barriers and are
required if applicable, all sleeping areas must have emergency escapes that are
clearly accessible, all exterior building exits must be clear and useable for
the renters, electrical wiring is required to be covered, fireplaces and flues
must be maintained in accordance with recognized standards and are to be
inspected and cleaned on a regular basis and wall outlets, switches and
junction boxes are required to have appropriate covers in place.
The proposed regulations also prohibit the use of outdoor
fire pits from June 15 through Sept. 15 at STRs, plus any additional “no burn”
times, as determined by the Fire Marshal.
Occupants of the STRs are required to abide by the County’s
current noise control ordinance and observe quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
the following day. A notice must be posted on the premises that identifies the
quiet hours.
“I’d like to make certain that on the noise ordinance end of
things consequences are fairly significant,” said commissioner Ken Humberston
during the Aug. 6 meeting.
Under the proposed regulations STRs are required to maintain
weekly garbage pickup service during any week the rental property is occupied.
All garbage receptacles must be covered.
The regulations require that property owner contact
information be posted on the interior of the dwelling for the renter and on the
exterior for neighbors.
According to the Planning Division, if the board chooses to
move forward with a program to register and enforce regulation of STRs, there
will potentially be a need for additional staffing and funding for the
departments involved with the implementation and enforcement of the new regulations.
The amount of additional staffing will be determined by the extent of the new
regulations, how often the STR registrations must be renewed and the level of
enforcement established.
The Planning and Zoning Division plans to schedule a final
policy session in September to discuss registration fees and the administration
of the program, including which departments will review and issue registrations
as well as enforce the regulations.
The county will also seek public comments about the draft
regulations over the next couple of months. There will be public hearings with
the BCC before the board takes any final action on new regulations.
The draft regulations and additional information regarding
STRs are available online at www.clackamas.us/planning/str. The Clackamas
County Planning and Zoning Division can be reached by phone at 503-742-4500.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Whistle Stop on track with new owners posted on 08/31/2019
Marc Accuardi and Darren Wiese were familiar with the
Whistle Stop Bar & Grill, both having spent time in their youth on the
Mountain, and more recently, enjoying breakfast there during the past 12 years.
And when they found out that the local eatery was going to close down last Jan.
1, they took a look into it, decided it had some good potential, bought the business
and took over on July 1.
“We make a very balanced team,” Accuardi said, noting that
he has 45 years in the restaurant business, while Wiese had a career in the
beverage industry.
The friends and business partners have a vision to “elevate
the game,” with some of the first improvements to the menu including switching
to 100 percent grass-fed beef and Grand Central sesame buns, with sauces and
gravy made from scratch, and a Shrimp Louie salad that has had truck drivers
coming back for seconds. Wiese has upgraded the bar, with better well liquor
and the addition of other liquors not found nearby, including Sazerac Rye and
Jim Beam Black Label, all of which have already been noticed by the customers.
Meanwhile, they also have plans for more improvements,
including upgrades to the kitchen and the outdoor patio area, all while
cultivating a menu that has dishes that aren’t found elsewhere on the Mountain.
“We want to have our own niche here,” Wiese said, adding
they will have a very “thoughtful approach” and keep prices reasonable for the
local residents.
The owners also praised the staff they inherited, including
Kaye Lessor, the bartender of 13 years that first let them know the restaurant
might close, and Victor Ruis-Munez and Bill King, the cooks.
“We want to see them prosper,” Accuardi said. “Victor and
Bill have really taught me a ton about the breakfast trade. It’s a blast, I’m
having a ball in here.”
Meanwhile, they also hope to see more success in the trivia
night (every Tuesday) and karaoke nights (Friday and Saturday). One recent
karaoke night, a couple big groups came in and Accuardi described the
atmosphere as like a roadhouse, with everyone in the restaurant joining in on
the fun.
“It’s been successful and fun so far; we’re pretty blessed
with it,” Wiese said. “We’re feeling fortunate to have something in the
community and have a home for everybody.”
The Whistle Stop Bar & Grill is located at 66674 E. Hwy.
26 in Welches. For more information, call 503-622-3440 or find the restaurant
on Facebook.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Eric Kallio
Local guitar player Eric Kallio refers to his songwriting as
a product of glass, wood and steel. These raw materials represent his approach
to writing music with guitars that are played with a glass slide, a steel bar
and a standard flat-pick.
On his second album “Life Force,” Kallio, a resident of
Government Camp where he has managed the Reed College ski cabin since 2010,
expands his approach to include a wider array of instrumentation as he
contemplates themes taken from the natural world and his experiences in
wilderness. The album will be released Sept. 2, 2019.
“The last ten years
of my life have been experienced on Mount Hood,” Kallio said about the
mountain’s impact on his desire to explore the natural world through his
songwriting. “(These songs) are from my experiences in the outdoors and the
beauty and complexity of nature.”
Kallio is originally from northern Virginia and began
playing six-string guitar in 1991. At a young age he began developing his
playing style from a mixture of folk, blues, country, Americana, jazz and roots
reggae influences.
In 2012 Kallio shifted the focus of his guitar playing to
traditional slide guitar techniques and began incorporating square-neck and
round-neck resonator guitars along with his dreadnought guitar. He found new
creative possibilities playing these instruments with slides which allow him to
mimic the subtle phrasings of the human voice.
Kallio released his first solo acoustic album in 2016
entitled "Glass Wood & Steel." The album was the result of a
quick week-long session with a producer with arrangements limited to
performances on his three guitars.
For his second album Kallio decided to take on the
production role himself with assistance from his brother Adam Kallio. This
decision came from a desire to incorporate other musicians and experiment with
song arrangements.
“Life Force” was recorded over a year-and-a-half by Kallio
at his home and in Portland.
“(The second album) is like a painting made over a long
period of time as opposed to a quick attack,” Kallio said. “I appreciated not
being on the clock and having more mental space.”
The album features Kallio’s cousin Kip Jones on violin,
Portland flute-maker Kyle Neidig on flute, djembe and percussion, and Portland
musician Matt Brewster on cajón and percussion. Kallio also picks up the bass
and additional percussion on several songs as the musicians establish intricate
polyrhythmic grooves.
Instrumentals such as the title-track “Life Force” and
“Tributary” showcase slide playing in Appalachia-tinged tributes to the natural
world. Kallio adds vocals and additional backing to “Fire Season,” “Rain” and
“Snow” as he reflects on the influence of these natural processes. On “Warrior”
and “We Love,” layered percussion and pulsing bass add a reggae-influenced
groove to the album.
Kallio will be appearing at the Skyway Bar and Grill, 71545
E. Hwy. 26 in Zigzag, on Saturday, Sept. 28 and at the Ranger Station, 4260 SE
Hawthorne Blvd. in Portland, Friday, Sept. 13 to perform the new album. He will
be performing both shows as a duo with Matt Brewster on percussion.
Fans of the Grateful Dead can watch Kallio perform songs
from the band’s catalog with Fingers & Chilly at the Timberline Labor Day
Mountain Music Festival’s tribute at noon, Monday, Sept. 2 at the Timberline
Lodge Amphitheater.
More information about the upcoming album release and
performances can be found online at www.erickallio.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Eric Kallio Mountain songwriter examines natural processes on second album posted on 08/31/2019
Local guitar player Eric Kallio refers to his songwriting as
a product of glass, wood and steel. These raw materials represent his approach
to writing music with guitars that are played with a glass slide, a steel bar
and a standard flat-pick.
On his second album “Life Force,” Kallio, a resident of
Government Camp where he has managed the Reed College ski cabin since 2010,
expands his approach to include a wider array of instrumentation as he
contemplates themes taken from the natural world and his experiences in
wilderness. The album will be released Sept. 2, 2019.
“The last ten years
of my life have been experienced on Mount Hood,” Kallio said about the
mountain’s impact on his desire to explore the natural world through his
songwriting. “(These songs) are from my experiences in the outdoors and the
beauty and complexity of nature.”
Kallio is originally from northern Virginia and began
playing six-string guitar in 1991. At a young age he began developing his
playing style from a mixture of folk, blues, country, Americana, jazz and roots
reggae influences.
In 2012 Kallio shifted the focus of his guitar playing to
traditional slide guitar techniques and began incorporating square-neck and
round-neck resonator guitars along with his dreadnought guitar. He found new
creative possibilities playing these instruments with slides which allow him to
mimic the subtle phrasings of the human voice.
Kallio released his first solo acoustic album in 2016
entitled "Glass Wood & Steel." The album was the result of a
quick week-long session with a producer with arrangements limited to
performances on his three guitars.
For his second album Kallio decided to take on the
production role himself with assistance from his brother Adam Kallio. This
decision came from a desire to incorporate other musicians and experiment with
song arrangements.
“Life Force” was recorded over a year-and-a-half by Kallio
at his home and in Portland.
“(The second album) is like a painting made over a long
period of time as opposed to a quick attack,” Kallio said. “I appreciated not
being on the clock and having more mental space.”
The album features Kallio’s cousin Kip Jones on violin,
Portland flute-maker Kyle Neidig on flute, djembe and percussion, and Portland
musician Matt Brewster on cajón and percussion. Kallio also picks up the bass
and additional percussion on several songs as the musicians establish intricate
polyrhythmic grooves.
Instrumentals such as the title-track “Life Force” and
“Tributary” showcase slide playing in Appalachia-tinged tributes to the natural
world. Kallio adds vocals and additional backing to “Fire Season,” “Rain” and
“Snow” as he reflects on the influence of these natural processes. On “Warrior”
and “We Love,” layered percussion and pulsing bass add a reggae-influenced
groove to the album.
Kallio will be appearing at the Skyway Bar and Grill, 71545
E. Hwy. 26 in Zigzag, on Saturday, Sept. 28 and at the Ranger Station, 4260 SE
Hawthorne Blvd. in Portland, Friday, Sept. 13 to perform the new album. He will
be performing both shows as a duo with Matt Brewster on percussion.
Fans of the Grateful Dead can watch Kallio perform songs
from the band’s catalog with Fingers & Chilly at the Timberline Labor Day
Mountain Music Festival’s tribute at noon, Monday, Sept. 2 at the Timberline
Lodge Amphitheater.
More information about the upcoming album release and
performances can be found online at www.erickallio.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
|  Dean De Benedictis
Dean De Benedictis made it to the summit of Mount Hood on
Sunday, Jun 16, on his fifth attempt. But his journey to the top was far from
typical, as he carried more than 80 pounds of music and recording equipment as
part of the Summit Music Project, his vision to reach the summit of every
Cascadian volcano to create live ambient electronic music.
“I’m trying to be a good artist as well as do wild things
artistically,” said De Benedictis, who is based in Los Angeles. “I have moments
where I really revel in it and feel liberated.”
De Benedictis got his inspiration for the project after
seeing the Academy-award-winning film “Man on Wire” in 2009, when he asked
himself what in his art is truly extreme and about what risks he was taking in
his music. While the original vision of the project included performing and
filming music at all significant locations in the American west, he narrowed
his focus, noting that the Cascade volcanoes offer a completely panoramic view
at their summits and that ambient music can be played there while still
maintaining a dramatic quality.
At first, he thought he could complete the project in a
couple years, although that notion was “probably one of the silliest things
that has ever passed through the hemispheres of my mind” and that most of the
initial summit attempts failed. The first two successes were reaching the
summits of Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens, where he learned valuable lessons
while getting lost and about the amount of weight he was carrying (not to
mention one time forgetting cords that he needed for recording).
“I learned the hard way, in those early years, that these
mountains demand far more attention and effort and sacrifice,” noted De
Benedictis, a life-long recording artist who has also ventured into filmmaking,
acting and more.
In his past attempts on Mount Hood, De Benedictis had never
made it higher than the Hogsback, finding himself either too weak or too far
behind in the day to make the final push. This past June, he had the strength
to keep going, but quickly discovered that the route to the top would not be
easy.
“It was very steep and icy, with no footholds other than
crampon technique to depend on, and nowhere to sit or even rest my calve
muscles, which were now burning,” he wrote in an email to the Mountain Times.
“But rather than panic and cry for help, which I knew wouldn’t do much good, I
decided to take notice of the few climbers who were walking up this thing like
it was a day in the park. A couple of them walked right past me, as though they
were looking for a spot to have a picnic.”
De Benedictis gathered himself, pushed on and reached the
summit in tears.
“To say the experience was cathartic would be an
understatement, it was practically transformative,” he noted.
The conditions at the summit were too windy and cold for a
performance, so De Benedictis set up a little bit down and out of the wind. He
had three pieces of music to play, but he was unable to play everything he
planned and he noted the emotions of the journey to the summit made an impact
on the performance.
His last piece was performed live on Facebook, and then he
packed up for the descent.
De Benedictis took the Old Chute route down, noting it was a
less dramatic climb than the one going up, but added that he didn’t enjoy the
performance and he may consider giving it another attempt.
DeBenedictis has also played at the summit of Mount Whitney,
and he also hopes to reach the top of Mount Shasta this year (with a possible
attempt at the end of last month). He also plans to complete a full-length
documentary on his project in the future.
“I wanted to show how inseparable my art is from my life,”
De Benedictis noted. “I just wanted to show the world how moved and inspired I
myself am to be alive, and in essence this was my way of doing that. This
project was my own primal scream of sorts, a way of standing in front of the
vastness and the abyss and exclaiming to the universe as gracefully and
sentimentally as possible that I was here, and that this was my impression of it.”
For more information about his project, including links to
videos and music samples, visit www.deandebenedictis.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Mountain resident escapes house fire with dog posted on 08/31/2019
On Sunday, Aug. 11, Paul Cadd escaped from his house as it
burned with only his phone, wallet, the t-shirt on his back and his dog,
Maggie, according to his nephew, Brandon. Brandon added that the house was a
100 percent loss.
“Healthwise, both are doing fine,” Brandon said about his
uncle and the dog, noting that Paul is in search of short-term and long-term
housing solutions.
Brandon added that the vision is to eventually rebuild on
the site.
The Hoodland Fire District (HFD) got the call on that day at
approximately 6:15 a.m. about the Welches house being fully engulfed in flames.
According to a press release, responders could see a large
column of smoke in the vicinity as they were in route, and Fire Chief John
Ingrao upgraded the call to a second alarm to ensure adequate resources.
When the responders reached the scene, 50 percent of the
house was engulfed in flames with a 26-foot travel trailer and a car directly adjacent
to the house starting to catch fire.
Firefighters immediately began aggressive fire attack
methods as additional resources arrived on scene, but due to the rural location
and limited fire hydrants, water had to be shuttled to the scene by multiple water
tenders, necessitating the temporary closing of Elk Park Road.
Firefighters battled the fire for approximately four hours
and were able to keep the fire contained to the one house and damage to the
travel trailer and car. One firefighter received a minor injury.
HFD was assisted on the call by Sandy Fire District,
Estacada Fire District and Clackamas Fire District.
HFD Fire Marshall Scott Kline noted that as of Monday, Aug.
26, no cause of the fire had been determined, but he expected the investigation
to be completed in the near future.
In response to the tragedy, a spaghetti dinner and auction
will be held to offer community support and as a fundraiser from 3-7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Mount Hood Lions Club, at the corner of E. Hwy. 26
and Woodsey Way in Welches. The cost is $12 per plate.
In preparation for the event, anyone who is interested in
donating auction items can contact Judi Sandsness at
pineconesixgreen@frontier.com or Brandon Cadd at bc.woodworks@yahoo.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Photo by Benjamin Simpson.
On July 20, as the country celebrated the 50-year
anniversary of the first human landing on the moon, wilderness steward Mike
Mathews spent the day beyond the wilderness boundary of the Paradise Park trail
from Timberline Lodge. Mathews’ mission was to monitor trail usage and instruct
visitors of policies that embody the “leave no trace” ethos of the 1964
Wilderness Act, enacted five years before man’s first steps on the lunar
surface.
“Wilderness value is determined by people enjoying and using
it,” said Mathews.
Mathews greeted visitors from foreign states and countries
as he continued his 18th year of service as an interpretative agent in the
wilderness areas of Mount Hood. The volunteer-based wilderness steward program
was established in 1999 as a key component of the Wilderness Protection Plan,
first implemented to address an increase in recreational usage of lands
protected by the 1964 Wilderness Act and to preserve wilderness values in the
Mount Hood, Salmon-Huckleberry, Hatfield and Badger wildernesses.
The stewardship program’s roots stem from environmental
impact surveys conducted by the U.S Forest Service that suggested recreational
access in these areas needed to be limited to a fee-based permit system or
monitored and instructed by a volunteer-based steward program to avoid further
degradation of existing wilderness areas. The program keeps access to the
wilderness areas open to the public without the need for permit-based access.
“We’re all visitors,” Mathews said about his mission to
inform hikers of low-impact recreational practices in wilderness zones.
Stewards patrol the trail systems and campsites and educate
guests of environmentally beneficial practices to implement while in wilderness
areas. Topics include garbage, human and animal waste disposal, fire prevention
and additional “rampant wear” caused by traffic outside of designated camp and
trail sites.
The stewards monitor trail usage to ensure that visitors
complete day-use permits for the wilderness areas. Additionally, Mathews noted
that 90 percent of the fees from the Northwest Forest Pass returns to the
district in which the pass was issued.
These fees are assigned to provide resources, including
trail and campsite maintenance and public restrooms, to trail systems according
to usage patterns monitored by the permits.
“We’ve got to keep the trails happy,” Mathews stated. “It’s
citizenship.”
The stewards greet 6,000 people annually and hike a combined
2,000 miles of trail as a group each year.
Stewards also check for campfires left smoldering overnight
to prevent forest fires, provide first aid for hikers suffering from
heatstroke, hypothermia and other injuries, and act as liaisons with the forest
service and other authorities in case of illegal acts in the public wilderness.
The main goal of the program is to educate the public of potential
environmental impact and restore damaged wilderness areas.
“We’re here to tell people how special these places are and
how careful we have to be,” said wilderness steward Janet Tschanz, who has been
involved with the program since its inception.
Tschanz noted that over her twenty years with the program
she believes the stewards have made an impact preventing camping close to
rivers and lakes in the wilderness.
“When hikers camp too close they damage the water,” Tschanz
said, citing Burnt and Mirror Lake as sites impacted by recreational use.
Both stewards noted that continued public involvement and
enthusiasm for the wilderness stewardship program is integral for future
sustainable public recreation in the Mount Hood wilderness areas.
“Without (the steward program), life on the mountain would
be much different,” Tschanz said. “We’d probably have to buy permits to access
the wilderness.”
The 20 years of volunteer effort has allowed the forest
service to keep recreational access to wilderness areas around the mountain
open to the public.
“We could always use more people,” Mathews said. “The more
people volunteering the better.”
Training is required to participate as a wilderness steward.
All volunteers must undergo job hazard analysis safety training, radio use
training and instruction on managing public encounters. First-aid training is
also offered to participants.
More information about the program, including an application
for participation is a available online at
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mthood/workingtogether/volunteering. The public
is invited to email questions and applications to: norynerobinson@gmail.com.
The Mount hood wilderness stewards can be followed on Instagram at
@mthoodwildernessstewards.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Food drive aims to bag more donations this year posted on 08/01/2019
Hood View Gardens’ food drive last year ended with more than
250 pounds of food and $300 in donations, benefitting Neighborhood Missions, a
community outreach program sponsored by Hoodland Lutheran Church that provides
food, wood and financial assistance for heating, medicine, utilities, gas
vouchers and transportation for those in the community in need. And while those
results were celebrated by Hood View Gardens’ co-owner Dennis Nash, he’s raised
the goal to this year’s drive to 350 pounds of food.
“We had a good turnout last year,” Nash said. “We’re hoping
this year our goal will be met.”
The drive will start on Thursday, Aug. 1 and run through
Sunday, Aug. 18. People bring in three cans or jars of high-protein food items
such as salmon, chicken, beef or turkey, peanut butter, pinto or black beans,
lentils, chili, oats or quinoa to receive a 20 percent discount off their
entire purchase, or three items of pasta, canned corn, green beans, peas,
canned fruit, rice, toiletry items or a package of individual snack items for kids
and receive a discount of 10 percent off their purchase at Hood View Gardens.
All items must be in new and unopened containers, while cans
need to be free of dents and cannot be expired or near expiration date. This
year, the store will allow customers who bring in food donations to combine
other discounts with their donation discount.
Neighborhood Missions covers an area approximately from
Alder Creek to Government Camp. The food pantry is stocked with donated food
that is available to anyone in need.
Hood View Gardens is located at 46870 Hwy. 26 in Sandy.
Business hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Tuesdays through Saturdays, and
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays (closed Mondays). For more information visit
Hoodviewgardensllc.com or search for “Hood View Gardens” on Facebook.
For more information on Neighborhood Missions, visit
http://hoodlandlutheranchurch.org/neighborhoodmissions or call 503-622-9213.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Runners in the Huckleberry Half
When Brady Mordhorst considered the prospect of taking over
as the Race Director of the Huckleberry Half Marathon he ran the course, set
within the natural beauty of Mount Hood on the Salmon River Road, Fairway Ave.
and Welches Road. After that, he was sold.
“Everything looks different when you’re in your shoes on the
road, as opposed to in a car,” said Mordhorst, who noted he was familiar with
the area from golfing at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort. “As soon as I ran the
course, I knew it was something special.”
The race, held this year on Saturday, Aug. 17, is
independently operated and got its start in 2013, although one year since then
it was not held. Three options are available; the half marathon, a
ten-kilometer route and a five-kilometer route.
Mordhorst, who has a career organizing events and directs
the race with his wife, noted the marathon relies on a large number of
volunteers from the Mountain and Sandy, including up to 60 total people who
take part in the race day.
“It’s a big undertaking,” he said.
With that in mind, Mordhorst added he’s put a lot of effort
into getting the community involved, including giving local nonprofits a chance
to earn some money by providing volunteers for the event.
“It’s exciting to see this run produce fruit for the local
community,” he said.
Mordhorst also noted that racers can take advantage of a
hotel package, where staying at one of a number of affiliated lodging providers
allows a $20 registration for any distance (registration fees after Aug. 1 for
the race are $60 for the five-kilometer, $73 for the ten-kilometer and $79 for
the half marathon). The race will be capped at 600 racers.
Mordhorst reported that early returns have 50 rooms booked,
which also means that a number of people will visit the Mountain as friends and
family also often make the trip. He expects approximately 800 people to be at
the event, with more than 60 percent of the runners travelling from more than
60 miles away.
“People are using it as a weekend getaway,” Mordhorst said.
The race is sponsored by Cole Pritchard of Country Financial
in Sandy and is also supported by a grant from Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory.
“It’s really fun when local businesses latch on to something
like this,” Mordhorst said.
For more information or to register, visit
www.huckleberryhalfmarathon.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Luncheon kicks off Mountain High Exhibit at Timberline Lodge posted on 08/01/2019
Rick Schaffer, stepson and protege to famed photographer Ray
Atkeson, noted that among the lessons he learned under Atkeson was
organization. And that skill will come in handy as Schaffer whittles down a
select number of photographs that will be part of the 22nd Mountain High
Exhibit, opening this month and running through the end of the year at
Timberline Lodge.
“You’re going to want a balance of imagery,” Shaffer said
about the process. “Some that are obviously very well-known images, some not as
well known.”
Schaffer will also offer a midday lecture from 11 a.m. to 1
p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25 as part of a luncheon at the Lodge, featuring a catered
lunch with wine and champagne. Proceeds from the event will support the Friends
of Timberline (FOT), a volunteer-based nonprofit that supports preservation,
conservation and community outreach programs at the Lodge, which is owned by
the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and operated by special use permittee RLK and
Company. Schaffer’s remarks will focus on Atkeson's photography, his history
and will highlight a few of the stunning vistas he captured in the Pacific
Northwest and beyond.
Schaffer inherited Atkeson’s archives, including
approximately 40,000 sheets of black and white negative film, up to 20,000
prints (color and black and white) and 250,000 pieces of color film. In
addition to the selected pieces on display, Schaffer plans on showing more
images during his lecture.
The photos in the exhibit will likely include a range of
images featuring Timberline Lodge, including construction images, some of the
interior, snow photos and more. Schaffer noted that Atkeson, a commercial and
freelance photographer who joined the Mazamas Club in 1929 and reached the
summit of Mount Hood 16 times, was such a regular at the Lodge that he was
described as a “barometer.”
“If they saw Ray’s car in the parking lot at sunrise, they
knew it was going to be a good day,” Schaffer said.
The Mountain High Exhibit is held every other year and has
celebrated other aspects of the Lodge’s art, including woodcarvings and
metalwork.
FOT President Lynda O’Neill, who has taken part in the
selection process of the photographs for the Atkeson exhibit, noted she has
particularly enjoyed the ones of the Lodge being built, which offers a chance
to compare how things have changed (or not) since then.
“It’s really interesting to see the lodge at that date and
also how it’s been kept up,” she said. “It’s a living museum.”
“Ray was an icon at the mountain,” O’Neill added. “He is
world-known for his images. Timberline is just one of the beautiful spots he
would shoot, but being around the people, sports and the Lodge made it one of
his favorites.”
Free Lodge tours will be given by USFS volunteers before and
after the Aug. 25 luncheon at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Tickets for the luncheon are $75 and can be purchased online
at https://atributetorayatkeson.eventbrite.com. For more information about FOT,
visit www.friendsoftimberline.org.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Every dog has its day; assistance dogs on Aug. 10 posted on 08/01/2019
Dogs are often considered to be man's best friend, and for a
peek into the life of some remarkable assistance dogs and their trainers, make
a date from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, on the front plaza of OMSI,
1945 SE Water Avenue in Portland, and celebrate International Assistance Dog
Week. This free event features assistance and rescue dogs and their trainers
from Autism Service Dogs of America (ASDA), Paws Assisting Veterans, Summit
Assistance Dogs (SAD), The Joys of Living Assistance Dogs and more
organizations.
Assistance dogs are highly trained to aid and help transform
the lives of individuals with a disability in many ways by serving as their
companion, aide, helper, best friend and loyal member of the family. During
their training the dogs learn unique tasks to assist their human partners,
often allowing that individual to increase their everyday activities and
independence they might not otherwise be able to enjoy. They also provide a
devoted, loving companionship and a sense of security. Assistance dogs may be
trained to help the blind or vision impaired, deaf or hearing impaired, persons
with mobility or psychiatric issues, and there are also dogs that are trained
to locate lost and missing persons.
ASDA provides specially trained service dogs to autistic
persons. A service dog accompanying an autistic child to school often provides
a calming presence by assisting with activities and changing locations and can
frequently minimize or eliminate emotional outbursts. Due to the presence of a
service dog accompanying an autistic child, it will make a family feel more
secure out in the community and will often increase opportunities for an
autistic child to develop social language skills with others.
SAD are specially trained for people with mobility issues by
opening and closing doors, turning lights on and off, retrieving dropped items
and helping with many tasks to assist with daily living. Their dogs are also
trained to meet specific needs of an individual.
For more information, visit www.omsi.org.
By Frances Berteau/MT
|
| Second theft a deflating event for Mt. Hood Bicycle owner posted on 08/01/2019
Mt. Hood Bicycle has once again sparked the attention of
brazen thieves by experiencing yet another smash and grab. Located in the
Hoodland Shopping Center in Welches, the bicycle shop suffered its second
break-in in just four months in the early morning hours of July 16. Open for
business since the beginning of 2018, Mt. Hood Bicycle has built its inventory
from scratch and its supply of upscale bicycles and accessories has proved
tempting for scroungers eager to lay their hands on the expensive gear.
George Wilson, proprietor of Mt Hood Bicycle, expressed his
dismay at the lack of police services on the Mountain during the nighttime
hours, leaving residents and businesses defenseless against increased crime in
the area.
"After experiencing my second break-in in four months,
I'm feeling a bit powerless in my efforts to combat these events," Wilson
said. "While I have the thief on camera, he had a bandana over his face,
while wearing a hoody and black leather gloves. What is really troubling is this
guy returned three times in fifteen minutes, all the while knowing there would
be no deterrent and no witnesses between the hours of 2 a.m. - 6 a.m."
The video, which was shared on Facebook, shows the thief
hauling his spoils through the vandalized window and also prying open the cash
drawer. He escaped with two bicycles, an orange and sage green Niner/Jet RDO
priced at $4,200, and a metallic blue, medium-sized full suspension
electric-assisted bicycle valued at $3,750. More than eight hundred dollars was
stolen from the cash drawer.
Mt. Hood Glass completed repairing the broken glass before a
Clackamas County Deputy showed up to take an incident report, according to
Wilson. "We simply do not have adequate police coverage to battle these
increased break-ins. Each time these thieves are successful, they become more
emboldened," Wilson added.
Wilson explained he has insurance, but another incident
would most certainly result in the cancelation of his policy, without which he
would be unable to continue doing business. In addition to the on-site cameras,
a beefed-up security alarm system has since been added.
"Let's keep looking out for each other," Wilson
said. “Please don't let these thieves continue to steal and vandalize
unopposed.”
By Frances Berteau/MT
|
| Hoodland Fire's Support Group makes impact on community posted on 08/01/2019
When the Hood to Coast relay takes to Hwy. 26 on Friday,
Aug. 23, approximately 12,600 runners and another 3,600 volunteers will pass
through the Mountain community. To keep them safe, dozens of safety personnel,
from the Oregon State Police to the Hoodland Fire District (HFD), will be on
hand - and to keep those safety personnel going, the HFD’s Support Group will
keep them fed, serving steaks, salads, fruit and more.
“Everybody has their own niche and their own thing they do,”
said Gretchen McAbery, the group’s Team Leader, noting that members of the
organization typically eschew recognition or attention. “We provide lunch for
them, have a place to sit down, relax, revitalize during the event.”
The Support Group started in 2001 with the original goal to
cook meals for the firefighters returning from long calls when they are cold or
hot, tired and hungry, at times in the middle of the night. Their duties have
since evolved into promoting socializing and team building in the department
and all meal support, including special events such as training company
graduation, the eclipse of 2017 and Hood to Coast (now for their third year).
“It is very fulfilling to be able to offer delicious meals
to our first responders after all they do to protect and serve our community,”
McAbery added. “Our reputation has expanded to now receiving calls from the
Sheriff's department asking if we are available to provide meals during local
search and rescue incidents.”
“While the ‘visible’ presence that the community sees of
Hoodland Fire is the Firefighters – their efforts are matched by the behind the
scenes work of community volunteers who take care of the needs of the district
firefighting members day or night, in good weather and bad providing critical
support on emergency scenes of hydration and food,” noted HFD Chief John Ingrao
in an email to the Mountain Times. “They are the unsung heroes of the District
and they directly impact the quality of life and protection of the community
with their assistance.”
Membership to the support group is open to people who live
or work in the district and are 18 or older (although teens age 14 and older
can also join if they have a current member as a sponsor and are approved by
the leader and the Fire Chief).
The group generally meets on the first Monday of every month
at 6 p.m. at the main station, 69634 Hwy. 26 in Welches (applications for
membership are available at the station).
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  George Perry
Rhododendron’s Ernie Carlson noted that the sport of lawn
bowls has been around since at least the 1600s and can be found in any country
that was ever part of the British Empire; including the United States. The
sport has a shorter history on the Mountain, with a club that plays at the Mt.
Hood Oregon Resort since 2005, but Carlson hopes to get things rolling, spread
the word and get more people involved.
“It’s been a popular sport throughout history,” Carlson
said.
A passerby might confuse lawn bowls with bocce ball (but
hopefully won’t mention that to those playing lawn bowls), as the two have a
number of similarities: both have a target ball, called a “jack,” and players
try to place their bowls (or balls in bocce) close to the jack in order to
score points. Among the more notable differences is that the bowls in lawn
bowls have a built-in bias that make them curve.
“The fun part of the game is to find out where the heck to
aim,” Carlson said. “That’s the uniqueness of the sport. You cannot aim at your
target, you aim three to eight feet away.”
He noted the local club (which is not formally organized
with officers) first came together thanks to a get-together idea by members of
the garden club, when about a dozen people showed up without even knowing the
rules.
“We had a lot of fun, then we went home and had a barbeque
and said let’s do it again,” Carlson said.
A few years later, the group started bowling twice a week,
and the sport took a hold of Carlson, who is now a certified coach and lawn
bowls instructor, a national umpire, spent five years on the national
organization, Bowls USA, and is president of the organization’s northwest
division.
The group gets together every Tuesday and Friday in summer
at 10:30 a.m. (weather permitting), sharing some of the terrain with croquet
players.
Carlson added that the sport is perfect for anyone who
doesn’t want to put stress on their body.
“That’s a big selling point,” he said. “If you can do a
deep-knee bend, you can play. But you get a lot of walking in. If your doctor
says do more walking, play lawn bowls.”
Carlson also plays at the King City Club twice a week and
also enjoyed a successful winter season in Arizona, including second place
finishes in men’s singles at the Palm Creek Club and fourth place in men’s
doubles.
He hopes to sponsor and hold a tournament locally this year,
noting that he could assemble a team and they would find out how good they
really are, while he also would like to see it gain traction with the Olympics.
“If we could get it to be an Olympic sport, suddenly it
would have an attraction to people,” Carlson said.
But for anyone on the Mountain who’s interested, the bar to
entry is not high. There’s no need to dress up and flip flops are welcome (or
bare feet).
Carlson has extra equipment and is happy to offer a lesson
to anybody who wants one.
“We would love to have more people,” he said, noting he is
also very interested in getting some younger Mountain residents interested. “If
they think it’s fun, they can show up and meet everybody and bowl with us. If
they don’t like it, that’s fine. It’s not for everyone.”
For more information, call Ernie Carlson at 503-622-3573 or
email at ecarlson6@frontier.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Larry Berteau
Larry Lee Berteau
1943-2019
Larry Berteau passed away on June 14 in Saint-Brieuc,
France. He was 76 and had led a full and adventurous life.
Larry and his wife, Frances, moved to The Mountain in 2008
having bought The Mountain Times newspaper, which became Larry's passion and
remained so until the day he passed away. Writing was in Larry's blood, having
earned his spurs as an AP journalist as a young man.
Larry embraced his years on the Mountain and he made many
great friends there. He was very impressed with the local community spirit, and
the way neighbors and friends always seemed to rally around during times of
need. The Mountain way of life became a niche for him.
His varied career, apart from his time in the newspaper
business, included being an apprentice mortician, croupier, grocery clerk,
bartender and a film maker/producer/director in San Francisco where he owned
his own company.
Throughout his life, he had an excellent backhand on the
tennis court, 5-wood approach on the links at the Oak Knoll golf course in
Ashland and an overhead cast at Hyatt lake that the local rainbow trout found
irresistible.
Following his heart and his adventurous spirit, Larry and
Frances, along with their dog and two cats, moved to Mael Carhaix, France in
2015. He was determined to live in France again, as he had as a young man
serving in the Air Force in Chateauroux. It was always his inspiration that one
should enjoy life to the fullest and have adventures before it was too late in
life to do so. He loved France and the slower way of life – the hearty
"bonjours" from locals when walking down the street and the fact that
an excellent boulangerie was always within walking distance.
Larry was a devoted sports fan, the San Francisco Giants
first and foremost. He was also an avid Portland Trail Blazers fan and was
incredibly proud of his team with their deep run into the playoffs. As a
graduate of the University of Oregon, Ducks football and basketball would also
religiously grace the television screen on weekends with an emphatic “Ohhh”
echoing from the couch.
With Larry's Irish heritage on his mother's side of the family,
the gift of talking always came easily for him. Larry was truly larger than
life and he could fill a room with funny stories and anecdotes. While living in
Ashland and as the editor of the Ashland Daily Tidings, he would cover
basketball and football games with a local radio production company. While on
the air, he never ran out of things to say and high school teams had their
games covered with immense gusto. A touchdown, described by Larry on the radio,
may just as easily have been a Superbowl moment. He truly had, as the Irish
call it, the gift of gab.
As a father, Larry was very proud of his son, Geoff. In
Ashland, Larry was appointed as a coach during the Little League years, and in
high school he spent many chlorine-filled hours poolside watching swim meets
and water polo games. He said that years later whenever he went into a pool and
smelled the chlorine, it brought back happy memories.
Later on, Larry loved listening to the birds and watching
the spring fledglings take flight, gazing at the flowers in the garden and
fretting about his tomato plants in the greenhouse. He also took great pleasure
in getting on his tractor and mowing the paddock, where one day he was
determined to accommodate two donkeys, or perhaps a pitch and putt course. His wife
managed to talk him out of that. He enjoyed a good game of Scrabble, was a
formidable opponent, and read constantly, usually with his cat purring
contentedly on his lap.
He is survived by his wife, Frances Berteau, of Mael
Carhaix, France; son Geoff Berteau, of southern Oregon and Thailand; sister
Marcia Berteau of Medford; a niece, nephews and dear friends. He is preceded in
death by his parents, Eddie and Martilla Berteau, and his sister Ginger
Dugdale.
The Pompes Funèbres Cadiou-Garandel-Chauvel of Mael Carhaix
was in charge of the arrangements.
Larry's courage and fortitude throughout his lengthy illness
has been an inspiration to all who knew him. He will be sorely missed, but his
spirit in The Mountain Times newspaper will linger on – as well as in our
hearts.
Any memorial contributions should please be directed to the
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma American Cancer Society, or the American Heart Association.
|
| Grant approval bolsters ‘Rhody Rising’ development goals posted on 07/01/2019
Clackamas County’s application to the state for
Rhododendron’s Transportation and Growth Management Quick Response Grant was
approved for the full $45,000 requested. The grant is the latest success in
Rhododendron’s “Rhody Rising” campaign to foster development and revitalization
in the community that serves as the gateway to Mount Hood.
The grant money will be utilized to establish guidelines
incorporating bike lanes and sidewalks into future development in the
community.
“By improving Rhododendron with traffic combing devices,
we’ll give drivers clues that this is a community; I’d better slow down,” said
Steven Graeper, Rhododendron Community Planning Organization (CPO) President.
Graeper added the development plan will have a dual focus on
safety and beautification.
“We’ll ultimately make (Rhododendron) more appealing to
developers,” he said.
2019-2020 funds for the grant await appropriation by the
state legislature and approval from the governor at the beginning of July.
Clackamas County, with the assistance from the “Rhody
Rising” committee of the CPO, has begun to develop a draft statement of work to
aid in the selection of an engineering consultant to guide the design process
once funding is approved.
The grant is managed by the Oregon Department of
Transportation with funding from the Department of Land Conservation and
Development (DLCD).
The proposed development will adhere to guidelines specified
by the DLCD and will be presented to the department by July 15. The grant
stipulates that a development consultant will be hired by August 12.
“We’re moving forward, it’s just a slow and tedious
process,” Graeper stated about the intended development. “It took Government
Camp 20 years to come up with a plan for their sidewalks. If we don’t start the
process now it’ll never happen.”
Graeper added that the CPO will seek more citizen input once
the engineering consultant is hired in August.
The Rhododendron CPO can be contacted by phone at
503-939-5220 or online at https://www.facebook.com/RhodyRising/.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
|  Buck Ambulance.
Denise O’Halloran, a paramedic currently teaching American
Heart Association courses at Portland's Cascade Training Center, had the idea
in 2012 to put together a documentary about the first female paramedics in the
area. But when she started interviewing those early pioneers, she realized that
there was a bigger story to tell, not just about those women who broke into the
field, but how Portland and its privatized ambulance service was on the cutting
edge of emergency medical services and the evolution of the industry.
“We had no idea that’s where the project was going at that
time,” O’Halloran said. “One of the things we were struck by was how
freewheeling Portland was.”
With the help of Mountain resident Pat McAbery, owner of
Sight and Sound Services in Welches, “The Rose City Experiment,” captures the
transition from men in cars that would simply bring a person to a hospital to
both men and women utilizing advanced life saving techniques in the field.
The pair interviewed nine subjects for more than 18 hours to
come up with the documentary, which clocks in at 54 minutes and is available to
rent or buy on Amazon (Prime membership is not required). The film is done in
chapter format, which focus on aspects of the evolution of ambulance service,
the challenges of breaking in as a woman, the different vehicles used, the
lessons learned following the 1978 crash of a DC-8 airplane in Gresham and
more.
The documentary premiered last fall at the Kennedy School in
Portland, with approximately 250 people in attendance. O’Halloran noted that
those people who were part of the story are not the type that would typically
promote their accomplishments, but they were grateful for the documentary
getting done.
“I think these folks never dreamed this story would be
told,” said O’Halloran, who started her career at Alpine Ambulance in Sandy.
“One said it was the retirement party they never had. It was a delightful,
amazing experience”
Notable moments in the documentary include the first cardiac
save in the country, when a patient was revived after going into cardiac arrest
(credited to a Portland area team on Dec. 23, 1969), reviving the owner of Buck
Ambulance, Ben Buck, in February 1970 and reviving Portland’s mayor, Terry
Schrunk.
McAbery, who is also a firefighter/paramedic for the Gresham
Fire Department, got an early start into the industry, as he would tag along
with his mother on private calls on the Mountain at the age of seven. And he
noted that while the life-long responders enjoyed the documentary, spectators
who did not have a background in the industry were also sucked in.
“I think it is a story that you don’t have to know EMS
(Emergency Medical Services) to understand,” McAbery said.
O’Halloran added that the documentary helps show the wherewithal
and can-do attitude that some of the “cowboy” doctors had to help create the
system we now enjoy.
“It’s not just an EMS story, it’s an Oregon story,” she
said.
A trailer for the documentary is available at https://youtu.be/3YEe12V-o1E
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Start your engines! Breakfast is back at Kiwanis Cruise-in posted on 07/01/2019
The scent of fresh pancakes will return to the 62nd annual
Kiwanis Cruise-in after a year without the community-pleasing brunch due to a
relocation of the long-running car show.
The event, formerly the Fly-in Cruise-In, is the Sandy
Kiwanis club’s biggest fundraising event of the year. The Cruise-In will be
held rain or shine, Sunday, July 21 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hull Park and Retreat
Center for the Blind and Low Vision, 43233 SE Oral Hull Park Road, Sandy.
“All the proceeds stay in the community,” club president
Mike Pickett said. He added the club helps support 12 nonprofits in the Sandy
community. Proceeds from the Cruise-In help fund five $1,000 scholarships for
graduating seniors.
“The response is fantastic, the community really looks
forward to it,” Pickett said about the car show and breakfast. The event is the
last car show in Sandy with an estimated 250 to 300 cars competing in 27
categories. The event is open to the public and free to spectators.
There is a $15 registration fee per car and dash plaques are
given out to the first 200 registrants. Plaques and trophies are sponsored by
local Sandy businesses with awards for 27 classes of vehicles, Kiwanis President’s
Choice and an Over-all Show Winner picked by a five-member committee.
Classes of cars range from classic cars from the 30s and 40s
to motorcycles, muscle cars, trucks and the eclectic barn-find category.
Pickett stated there will be an antique flat-bed semi logging truck at the
show.
The pancake breakfast is $8 per adult and offers pancakes,
scrambled eggs and ham. Breakfast will be served until noon with a snack shack
serving additional offerings until one.
The event will return to Oral Hull park with some proceeds
of the show going to benefit the Oral Hull Foundation. The Cruise-in was
relocated to the park after the Fly-in airplane portion of the show was
discontinued in 2018 due to insurance issues.
Pickett stated the move allowed the club to reexamine and
improve the car show.
“We asked, how do we do this to make it even better, and I
think we did,” Pickett said about the new location’s benefit to a local
charity.
More information about the Kiwanis Cruise-in, including a
pre-registration form, is available online at
http://www.sandykiwanis.org/flyIn.html.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Frosty treats and balloons to benefit Doernbecher posted on 07/01/2019
Each July, yellow balloons cover the walls and windows of
Rhododendron’s Dairy Queen franchise. These Miracle Treat Balloons are sold by
the franchise through July 25 with all balloon sales benefiting Doernbecher
Children’s Hospital.
“It’s a passion project,” said Angela Harrell, franchise
owner. Angela and her husband Zack purchased the Rhododendron Dairy Queen in
2018 and are third generation owners of the business. “We’re trying to do what
we can to make (the fundraiser) a big deal.”
In 2018 the Rhododendron Dairy Queen was a silver level
fundraiser, raising between $2,500 and $3,499 for the children’s hospital. The
store was one of the top five franchises in the Pacific Northwest region in
donations that year. This year Harrell stated their goal is to become a gold
level fundraiser, with hopes of raising more than $3,500 in donations.
Community members are invited to visit the store on Miracle
Treat Day, July 25 when one dollar of each Blizzard ice cream treat sold at the
franchise is donated to the hospital. Customers receive two $1 coupons good at
any Dairy Queen in Oregon for their charitable contribution when a balloon is
purchased.
On July 24, the Harrells and franchise employees will visit
Doernbecher and hand out free Blizzards to hospital employees, patients and
patient’s families. Last year they
handed out 1,400 free Blizzards at the hospital.
“It’s been close to my heart since I was young,” Harrell
said about her ongoing involvement with the fundraiser. “Our little mountain
community does some big things.”
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Mountain Music Festival aims to bring out the Deadheads posted on 07/01/2019
Jon Tullis, Director of Public Affairs for Timberline Lodge,
noted the preparations for the annual Labor Day Mountain Music Festival were a
little different this year. He got together with the four acts that will
perform at the lodge, and curated the playlist, which will present the roots
and evolution of the music of the Grateful Dead.
“We’ll have a little fun and let our hair down a little bit
more,” Tullis said, noting the Mountain has a lot of “Deadheads.” “It should be
great.”
Music for the festival, dubbed “Steal Your Mountain, A
Tribute to the Grateful Dead,” starts at the lodge at noon, Monday, Sept. 2,
and admission is free. A number of groups will have outreach tables, including
the Friends of Timberline, the Pacific Crest Trail Association and the Oregon
Bluegrass Association, while visitors can enjoy food and beverages from
Timberline Lodge and bring their own instruments to jam with the Taborgrass
Players on the “pickin’ patio.”
The first band will be Fingers & Chilly with Eric
Kallio, celebrating the folk roots of the Dead, with such songs as “Shady
Grove” and “Deep Elem Blues.” Tullis noted the act will be “folksy Americana”
and feature some early American songs the Dead covered.
The Columbians will follow at 1:15 p.m. and keep things
acoustic, playing songs including “Midnight Moonlight” and “Hobo Song.”
At 2:45 p.m., U.S. Cadenza will take the stage, turning to
electric instruments. The band opened for the Dead at Portland’s Masonic Temple
in 1967, and Tullis noted they have some of the “blusier stuff” on their song
list, including “Big Railroad Blues” and Howlin’ Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightning.”
The headliner, taking the stage at 4:30 p.m. and playing
while the sun sets, is the Garcia Birthday Band, who will offer some Grateful
Dead favorites, especially from the 1971-72 era.
“They’re more than a tribute band, they have their own
following,” Tullis said, adding that the event will be family friendly.
Sponsors for the event include Mt. Hood Brewing Co. and
Farmer Brothers. For more information, visit www.timberlinelodge.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| County considers regulating short-term rentals posted on 06/01/2019
More than one hundred local residents attended a May 18
Clackamas County Planning Division public meeting and voiced, at times, sharply
divided opinions on allowing and regulating short-term rental property (STR) in
unincorporated Clackamas County. The meeting was hosted by the Rhododendron
Community Planning Organization at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort in Welches.
In addition to potentially regulating properties used as
STRs, the county planning commission is considering whether to allow them
throughout unincorporated Clackamas County or limit the usage to the Mount Hood
resort areas.
“It’s a problem going on in our community. We’re here to
listen,” said Clackamas County Commissioner Paul Savas.
At the meeting Clackamas County Planning Manager Jennifer
Hughes stated that current county zoning code does not allow or disallow STRs.
She added that the county was considering implementing regulations of STRs
because of an increase in properties being used in this manner, fueled by the
growth of internet-based rental platforms. Hughes said that while the STRs
provide additional income to property owners and bolster tourism in the region,
there are concerns about their impacts on neighbors.
Some of the impacts on surrounding neighbors cited by both
the county and community members in attendance included noise, litter,
adherence to garbage pick-up schedules with bins, on-street parking and rental
occupants disregarding posted speed limits in communities.
Community members also listed examples of serious safety and
environmental concerns, such as lack of access for emergency vehicles due to
clogged on-street parking and occupants disregarding burn bans and other fire
code issues.
Opinions expressed by local citizens in attendance impacted
negatively by STRs varied from calling for a complete ban of these rentals, to
implementing regulations with violations punished by a series of fines.
Concerned STR owners called for restraint from the county and urged that
regulation not punish responsible rental operators.
Many STR owners stated that their properties were only
affordable due to the rental income.
“The money that I make is what allows me to live here, to
pay my property taxes. Without the supplemental income I’d be on the rolls of
the homeless up here,” said Dale Peters, a retired Welches resident who has
lived in the community for twenty years.
Others in attendance pointed to the positive impact STRs
have on the community by fostering tourism and promoting local business.
“By shutting us down the community will be impacted,” said
Alicia Fiorito, operator of two vacation cabins in Rhododendron. She stated she
constantly promotes local restaurants and businesses through her rentals and
only utilizes local businesses for the maintenance and repair of her
properties.
Hughes stated the county realizes that rental use has been
around in the region for decades and that there are neighborhoods and
condominiums specifically developed as resort/vacation rental properties. She
noted there would be no new tax from the initiative and instead suggested a fee
paid by STR operators to cover the cost of administering and sustaining the new
program.
Many in attendance called for the county to simply improve
the enforcement of existing ordinance regarding noise, fire code violations and
illegal parking instead of creating a broader regulatory framework.
“I don’t see these as specific issues (to STRs),” Welches
resident Hilari Kolstad said. She cited the counties lack of enforcement of
similar noise and fire code violations on her neighboring non-rental properties
as being a problem she is struggling to address. “Maybe it’s easier to have the
short-term people gone then deal with the long-term nuisance.”
The meeting was the second in a series of seven public meetings
being held across the county in May and June to present information about the
issue and seek public input.
More information regarding the proposed ban and/or
regulation of STRs is available online at www.clackamas.us/planning/str.
Clackamas County encourages public participation in an online survey available
on the site. For more information or to comment contact Senior County Planner
Martha Fritzie at 503-742-4529 or at mfritzie@clackamas.us.
County representatives will also discuss STRs at the Mt. Hood
Area Chamber of Commerce meeting at 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 4, at the Mt. Hood
Village RV Resort, 65000 Hwy. 26 in Welches.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Restoration work to remove sections of levees to begin in June posted on 06/01/2019
The Sandy River Watershed Council (SRWC) is preparing to
break ground on a major habitat restoration project, located just downstream of
the confluence of the Sandy and Salmon Rivers.
Restoration project actions will remove sections of levees
built in the wake of historic 1964 floods, unlocking access to salmon habitat
that has been hidden behind the levees for 55 years. Allowing the Sandy river
to flow into the reconnected side channels and adding large log jams will both
enhance habitat for fish and help disperse river energy during future floods.
“The floodplain where the Sandy and Salmon Rivers meet is
one of the largest undeveloped areas remaining along the upper Sandy,” said
Steve Wise, Sandy River Watershed Council Executive Director. “This area is a
top priority in basin-wide restoration plans. Putting these side channels and
floodplain areas back in reach for fish connects another link in the chain of
healthy habitats that are boosting wild fish populations since Marmot dam was
removed.”
The Sandy River supports populations of Chinook, Coho and
steelhead that are listed threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Because
of its free-flowing condition since dam removals began in 2007, the Sandy
represents a wild salmon stronghold, and is a key to state and federal recovery
strategies for wild fish in the Lower Columbia River.
The largest flood on record occurred in 1964, destroying
roads, bridges and more than 150 homes across the upper Sandy. After the
“Christmas flood” event, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built levees in an
effort to return the river to its former channel and hold it in place. Despite
these efforts intense floods occurred again in 1996 and 2011, with high flow
events in several other years that caused erosion and damage to homes, sewer
systems and roads.
While 1964 actions were intended to contain flooding, levees
concentrate the river’s energy and erosion. Opening the levee allows the river
to spread out during high water events and disperse river energy. It also
provides refuge for young fish, who need to hide during severe floods, and can
help reduce potential erosion and damage to roads, bridges, homes and other
infrastructure.
“This is a crucial effort to enhance community resiliency
and habitat for listed wild Salmon and Steelhead in the Sandy River,” said Rick
Gruen, Manager of Clackamas County Parks and Forests. “The Parks and Forest
Department owns land within the project area and is partnering with the Sandy
River Basin Watershed Council and others on this very important and critical
floodplain reconnection effort.”
Preparation for project construction and levee removal will
begin in June. Major work along the floodplain will occur mainly between July
15 and September, a period when impacts are least likely on migrating wild
salmon and steelhead. Replanting with native trees and plants will occur in
late fall and winter.
Trails along the Sandy off Barlow Road may be temporarily
closed during the restoration work. Project partners will replant impacted
areas with native plants once log jams and re-connected channels are in place.
Monitoring will measure how often water fills the restored channels, whether
vegetation is recovering and potentially whether fish are using the new
habitat. With previous experience as a guide, project partners anticipate that
allowing the Sandy and its fish access to the floodplain will help the Sandy’s
salmon populations.
"The restoration projects we've completed on the Salmon
River are very similar, and those have delivered dramatic, positive results for
wild salmon and steelhead," said Bruce Zoellick, Bureau of Land Management
fish biologist. "The side channels this project will re-connect, and the
log jams it will build, give wild fish access to habitat that they need. It's
another major step toward restoring wild fish productivity in the Sandy.”
The Sandy-Salmon Floodplain Reconnection has drawn support
from local, state and national sources. Funders include the Oregon Watershed
Enhancement Board, Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District, Portland
Water Bureau Habitat Fund, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
National Coastal Resilience Fund.
NFWF, in partnership with the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, launched the NCRF in 2018 to support on-the-ground
projects that engage communities and reduce their vulnerability to growing
risks from coastal storms, sea-level rise, flooding, erosion, wildfires, drought
and extreme weather through strengthening natural ecosystems that also benefit
fish and wildlife.
The Sandy Floodplain Reconnection is one of 35 projects
nationwide that received National Coastal Resilience Fund grants.
By Kara Caselas/MT
|
| Artwork, produce and more available on summer weekends posted on 06/01/2019
Following the successes from last year, two local markets
will return for a second go-around, filling weekends this summer with local
produce, art, music and much more. The Mt. Hood Artisan Market opened last
month, and will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on every other Saturday
through Aug. 31 in the courtyard at the Mt. Hood Village and RV Resort, 65000
E. Hwy. 26 in Welches, while the Hoodland Farmers Market will take place from
1-4 p.m. every Sunday starting June 2 and running through Sept. 29.
“As long as we stick with it, it’s got the potential to grow
into something,” said Warren Bates, one of the organizers of the Artisan
Market.
Bates noted that last summer’s success was mirrored in a
holiday version held last December (which he also anticipates returning this
year). This summer’s offerings will include jewelry, wood carvings, pottery,
handcrafted yard games, art and more, while the Dragonfly Cafe offers visitors
a chance to grab a bite to eat.
Bates added that the market keeps costs for vendors to a
minimum and he’d like to bring more food options to try and increase the
visitors.
“That always brings them,” he said.
Lauren Carusona, Market Manager for the Hoodland Farmers
Market, noted many of the same vendors will return this year, offering fresh produce,
meat and eggs, handmade jewelry, soaps, herbal products and more. This year’s
market will highlight education, with locals and vendors offering classes on
topics such as preserving food, digestion and more, while there will be more
music also offered this summer, including Well Rounded Edges on Sunday, June 2.
“We’re really trying to be more about focus on education,
supporting the community,” she said.
Carusona also noted the market’s structure has changed,
becoming a non-profit organization with board members. One board member will
write a weekly newsletter offering updates on the market, which people can sign
up for via Facebook or at the market.
“It’s more of a community-based and team-based thing,” she
said.
Carusona added that sustainability and low waste will be
highlighted at the market, with no single-use plastic items used and vendors
encouraged to foster reusable containers, such as jars that customers can come
back with to refill.
The market will offer reusable tote bags featuring a new logo,
while the site will also serve as a location to drop off for Amazon packaging.
For more information about the Mt. Hood Artisan Market,
email bateswarren1@gmail.com or Heidi_flanders@equitylifestyle.com. More
information about the Hoodland Farmers Market can be found on the market’s
Facebook page (search for Hoodland Farmers Market).
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Earth Works holds grand opening in June posted on 06/01/2019
The federal Farm Bill of 2018 sewed the seeds for the
legalization of products from industrial hemp to be made available to the
general public.
The product is known as cannabidiol (CBD), and is the second
most prevalent of the active ingredients found in cannabis, also known as
marijuana.
Earth Works, a new Mountain business venture, will have its
grand opening Saturday, June 22, in the Hoodland Center of Welches, next door
to Mogul Mountain Pizza. Regular hours will ensue from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
Tuesday through Saturday.
Devin Houston is the Earth Works owner, while Michael and
Cheryl Budd along with John Conley are investors in the business. Michael and
Cheryl Budd also own and operate The Mt. Hood Cannabis Company in Rhododendron.
“Two years ago, Cheryl and I purchased The Mt. Hood Cannabis
Company and brought our family to the Mount Hood area,” Michael Budd wrote in
an email to The Mountain Times. “Our children moved here last summer and we
have made the Mountain our home. We love the people here and feel lucky to be a
part of the future of this growing and progressive community.”
CBD is an essential component of medical marijuana, it is
derived directly from the hemp plant, which is a cousin of the marijuana plant,
Michael added.
“While CBD is a component of marijuana (one of hundreds), by
itself it does not cause a ‘high.’”
“In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse
or dependence potential,” according to a report from the World Health
Organization (WHO). “To date, there is no evidence of public health related
problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”
The WHO pointed to the benefits of CBD citing the strongest
scientific evidence of its effectiveness in treating some of the cruelest
childhood epilepsy syndromes, such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut
syndrome, which typically do not respond to antiseizure medications. In other
studies, CBD was able to reduce the number of seizures and in some cases was
able to stop them altogether. Further, CBD is commonly used to reduce anxiety
and for patients who suffer through the misery of insomnia, studies suggest
that CBD may help with both falling asleep and staying asleep.
With the current opioid crisis, a study by the European
Journal of Pain showed, using an animal model, CBD applied on the skin could
help lower pain and inflammation due to arthritis.
There remains opposition to the use of CBDs, focusing on the
lack of clinical trials – although now that the Farm Bill has become law more
clinical trials are taking place.
“We may be relying on anecdotal evidence of the effect of
CBD,” Michael Budd wrote, “but we know the downsides of the cost and addictive
properties of the current pharmaceutical solutions.”
One of the first clinical studies of CBD’s effect on opioid
addiction has been completed by the American Journal of Psychiatry. The study
included 42 adults who had a recent history of opioid use. After being
administered CBD, those given CBD had a two-to-three-fold reduction in cravings
relative to the placebo group.
“This is an extremely significant paper. We need to utilize
every possible treatment in helping people with chronic pain to find other ways
to manage their symptoms and in people with opiate addiction to find relief,”
said Dr. Julie Holland, a psychiatrist in New York and former assistant
professor of psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine.
Earth Works will carry a full line of CBD products,
including tinctures, topical lotions, salves and edibles. All the company’s products
are derived from industrial hemp. At the June 22 opening, Earth Works will have
food and drinks provided by its neighbor, Mogul Mountain Pizza.
There will be speakers throughout the day discussing CBDs,
current clinical studies, and uses and product demonstrations. The event is
open to the public.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| New Mountain business is a stitch sublime posted on 06/01/2019
Welches seamstress Anne Balmer’s light-filled home studio is
full of items that stir the imagination. Photos of painstakingly restored
Persian rugs and pre-Columbian textiles, colorfully sewn children’s dress-up
costumes and intricately stitched Victorian-era reproductions bare proof of her
long career in textile design, theatrical costuming and textile conservation.
Anne’s Sewing Service is Balmer’s latest undertaking,
utilizing her thirty-plus years of professional experience to provide custom
alterations, made-to-order home décor, children’s wear and gifts for members of
the Mount Hood communities.
Balmer was born in England and taught to sew by her mother,
a custom dressmaker. She went on to study textile design and honed her sewing
chops working in the costume shop at San Jose Repertory Theatre in California.
“When you work in a costume shop you’ve got to toe the line.
The show must go on,” Balmer said about the skills she learned working for the
theater.
Annual visits to England led her to study Victorian-era
historical garments and eventually create the White Swan collection, a
mail-order company featuring Victorian nightgowns and lingerie.
Balmer went on to work in textile restoration for over a
decade in California, restoring and mounting archeological textiles from around
the world, including Pre-Columbian funereal textiles from Peru and Chile,
Flemish tapestries and Persian rugs.
After her career in restoration, Balmer started her own
custom sewing business, which she hopes to continue on the mountain following
her move to the Welches community 18 months ago.
Her sewing service specializes in home décor, including
custom curtains and window treatments, slipcovers, pillows and cushion covers,
bedding and canopies. She also provides alterations, hemming, tailoring and
made-to-order garments.
Balmer recently utilized her experience with textile conservation
restoring a quilt for a customer in Oregon. Her sewing service also currently
offers technical support and expertise hanging textiles and tapestries for home
display.
The focal point of Balmer’s current studio are two
elaborately beaded, princess dress-up gowns intended for her neighbors’ young
daughters. Balmer explained that sewing princess and fairy dress-up costumes
are one of her favorite activities and she delights in creating clothes for
children to wear with imagination.
Her sewing service offers consultation appointments and
gives estimates for all services. Balmer emphasized her desire to work with her
customers and her understanding that “nobody likes surprises” for unexpected
expenses.
Anne Balmer, and Anne’s Sewing Service, can be reached to
arrange an estimate or discuss a project by email at annekbal@gmail.com or by
telephone at 831-234-5740.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Chalk contest to raise awareness of what goes down the drain posted on 06/01/2019
Sandy artist Becky Hawley has spent years honing her skills
as a painter, creating works in oils, acrylics and watercolors. And with the
Sandy Arts Commission and the City of Sandy kicking off a chalk art contest in
July, Hawley gave that medium a try by putting the contest’s logo near the
fountain across from city hall.
“I found doing the logo on the sidewalk was a learning
experience for me,” she said. “I enjoyed doing the art and also learned using
the chalk as a tool on the rough concrete was completely different than trying
to do chalk work on paper.”
Other area artists can also get the chance to try their hand
at it through the contest, featuring the theme “Only Rain Down the Drain.”
Organizers started the event to help spread the message that whatever goes down
the street drains can have a dramatic impact on the area’s water. Some of the
potentially hazardous materials that do find their way down drains include
paint, pesticides, cleaning products, car fluids, dog feces and more.
“I can’t believe how many people don’t know the water drains
into (Tickle) Creek,” said Hawley, a member of the Sandy Arts Commission.
The contest is open to all ages and all artistic levels,
with age categories for grade school kids (grades 3-5), middle school (grades
6-9), high school (grades 10-12) and adults (ages 18 and older). Artist’s
applications are due by Friday, June 21, including a drawing on paper that, if
selected, will be recreated in chalk on Sandy’s sidewalks on the weekend of
July 6 and 7. The grand prize is $150 with other prizes and awards for each category.
Hawley noted that families and neighbors are encouraged to
come out and see the different creations and vote for a “People’s Choice”
award. She added that they plan to do the contest again next year with a
similar theme and will hopefully continue with different themes beyond that.
“We would really like to see the art continue in a somewhat
educational vein,” Hawley said. “It’s just going to be fun to do.”
For more information, or to submit an application (please
include your name, age, grade, email and phone number), email
chalkart@cityofsandy.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  The Saldivar family
Mountain family from Mexico shares their journeys to
citizenship
30 years ago last month, Maria Saldivar, her husband Pablo
and their four children arrived in Welches after leaving their home in
Zacatecas, Mexico. The parents made the choice to immigrate to the U.S.,
seeking a better life for their children, and Pablo considered the Mount Hood
area to be the most beautiful in the Pacific Northwest, settling their choice
of destination.
“He saw what everybody else here sees; it’s a perfect place
to raise a family,” said their daughter, Maria De Los Angeles Burke, who arrived
to the Mountain when she was five.
Upon their arrival, the family saw snow for the first time,
prompting them to think it was Christmas, Burke recalled.
Pablo had a work permit, offering him legal status in the
U.S., but the rest of the family did not. Their initial hope was to live here
and travel back to Mexico when time and finances allowed to visit their family
back home.
“It turned out to be a little harder than that,” Maria said.
As they each endeavored to find their own path to U.S.
citizenship, challenges and changes within the system still impact their lives
three decades later.
The family first arrived with the understanding that Pablo’s
employer would offer an opportunity for legal status for the entire family, but
that promise was not fulfilled. And it became even harder as the years went by.
After 9/11, the country saw widespread securitization and immigration
enforcement increased. Detention and deportation rates rose while opportunities
for legal immigration were curtailed.
For the Saldivar family, the choice was to stay in the U.S.
undocumented and not return to Mexico to their family or go back and leave
behind their life in America. Burke added that it’s important to understand the
sacrifices her parents made for them.
“My mother left everything she knew (in Mexico),” Burke
said. “She left her parents there and couldn’t go see them. They passed and she
wasn’t able to say goodbye. If they left (the U.S.), they would not be able to
come back.”
“I don’t think it was easy for her to make that decision,”
she added. “My kids have never experienced hardship, and (it’s important) just
for them to know the sacrifices of their grandparents.”
Burke, now 35, noted that when her family arrived to the
Mountain, there were many challenges for them all. It was particularly
difficult for her at school, where her parents were unable to communicate with
her teachers. Some teachers wanted to help, she noted, but others seemed to see
her as a “lost cause.”
The challenges continued in high school, where Burke didn’t
feel accepted and she eventually modified her middle name to make it easier for
native English speakers to pronounce.
“I felt rejected and incomplete,” she noted.
Burke moved to Idaho after high school, where she worked in
a chain of retail stores and rose up the ladder to become a traveling manager,
spending time in five northwest locations. But after she confided in her
employer about her legal status as an undocumented worker, she saw a
significant reduction in wages, prompting her to return to Oregon and enroll in
Mount Hood Community College.
As laws grew stricter after her return, Burke was unable to
renew her driver’s license and a path to citizenship seemed elusive. Even when
she fell in love with a fellow Mountain resident and got married in 2007, the
process was long, complicated, time consuming and expensive, including needing
to go back to Mexico for an unknown stretch of time.
In 2011, Burke received a work permit, offering the chance
to work without fear of deportation or exploitation and in 2013 she became a
legal permanent resident with a green card. This past March, Burke interviewed
at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Portland and became
a citizen.
Burke spent months studying for the test with her four
children and husband, noting that there were questions they struggled with, but
in the end, she discovered she did not feel “completed” by that piece of paper,
as she had previously thought she would be.
“I am no different now, than I was before I become a
citizen,” Burke noted. “I am still Maria De Los Angeles Burke. I am a loving
and devoted parent. I own and manage a successful vacation rental. I help
manage my husband’s logging and firewood business. I have helped make some real
positive changes in this community, and I did it all without this piece of
paper.”
Vanessa Saldivar was a one-month old infant when she arrived
with her family and grew up on the Mountain unaware of her immigration
situation. She excelled in school, crediting her older sister, Maria, for
instilling a love of learning in her early on.
“I have vivid memories of playing school with my sister,
only she was very serious,” Vanessa noted. “She didn’t want me to go through
the same challenges she went through in school.”
Vanessa was recognized as a National Hispanic Scholar and as
graduation approached she received generous scholarship offers from
universities across the country. When it came time to accept an offer, the 2006
valedictorian of Sandy High School (as a 17-year-old graduating a year early),
discovered she didn’t have legal status and could not accept any.
“I was shattered,” said Vanessa, now 30.
To pursue her dream of furthering her education, she
enrolled at Mount Hood Community College, where she wasn’t asked to prove her
legal status. Vanessa added that it was hard for some of her peers to
understand why she didn’t accept the scholarships she was offered.
“It didn’t add up, but they didn’t know about my legal
status,” she said. “They didn’t really know me.”
In 2012, Vanessa received temporary protection from
deportation and the ability to apply for a social security number through the
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. She continued her
education, including earning a Master’s degree in Migration Studies from the
University of San Francisco last May, and has worked in immigration law for the
past eight years.
Vanessa has also received national recognition for her work
and was featured in the New York Times Magazine in 2015 for her work helping
Central American refugees.
Yet her own immigration journey is still not over. Vanessa
intends to pursue citizenship but after seeing her sister go through it,
acknowledges how emotionally complicated it could also be for her.
“I imagine it will be a lot to process.” she said. “It has
been difficult to reconcile the reality that the place where you have lived
your entire life (America), the place that you call home doesn’t fully acknowledge
and accept you.”
She added that she considers Welches home and may even
return to the Mountain to raise children, but reflecting on her family’s
journey, she admits that she often wonders whether the community will love and
accept her as she has loved this community after they know the truth. “It can
be lonely, feeling like people don’t really know us,” Vanessa said. “I don’t
think I’ve ever felt truly seen by my community and I do worry that some people
on the Mountain wouldn’t understand the sacrifices my parents made for us.”
“It would be amazing to receive that understanding and
support though,” she added.
The family arrived on the Mountain with two boys, who were
not interviewed for this story and will not be named to respect their privacy. The
youngest is now a legal permanent resident and is waiting to gain full
citizenship.
However, the oldest boy struggled as a six-year-old upon
arriving as one of the only non-white children in the classroom and lacking
support. The struggles continued throughout adolescence and young adulthood,
and he was deported more than five years ago, leaving behind a U.S. citizen
wife and three young sons.
“He was a very good father and loved his kids very much,”
Vanessa said, “I think he still hasn’t come to terms with it fully, and as the
close-knit family that we are, I don’t think we have either.”
A fifth child, Christina, was born after the family arrived
to the Mountain, granting her full citizenship from birth. Now in college and
studying to be a social worker, she only recently discovered the complex
challenges her family have been dealing with since they arrived on the
Mountain.
“As I was exploring my family’s story through my social work
lens, I wanted to look into how being an immigrant family shaped all of our
identities differently,” said Christina, 23. “Growing up with a different
status as my siblings was something that I did not understand, but knew was a
privilege they did not share. I want to use their experiences as a platform to
advocate for other families like mine. Sometimes I struggle to navigate between
the spaces of being American and Mexican. I am very proud of being both, but
often feel I am not enough of either, especially now.”
Christina is a familiar face on the Mountain, working at
various businesses and staying active in the community, but she notes that
people may not realize that Latino immigrant workers are all around us.
“We are not the only Latinos here,” Burke added, noting
she’d like to see the community fully embrace the different culture. “There are
so many other families and they have their own stories. I would love to see
their stories told as well.”
They also see the challenges the immigrant community faces
in the country today, with an administration that “systematically and strategically
dehumanizes” them, as Vanessa pointed out.
“I think it’s such important work to bring people’s humanity
to light and to try to bring community together,” she said, adding there is a
level of vulnerability in sharing their family’s story. “We are nervous, but we
believe it is an important time to authentically connect our community. We have
hope that it will do good.”
As for Maria, the decision to leave her home in Mexico and
move her family to the Mountain to find a better life has worked out for the
best, despite the challenges they have faced over the years.
“I believe it’s a good thing,” she said. “I feel it’s worth
it. I see my kids, they are successful and happy. I see my grandkids growing. I
see my kids, they are good. I feel good.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| La familia Saldívar Ellas vuelan con sus propias alas posted on 05/01/2019
Familia Mexicana de la montaña comparte su viaje hacia la
ciudadanía
Hace 30 años, María Saldívar, su esposo Pablo y sus cuatro
hijos dejaron su comunidad en Zacatecas, México y llegaron a Welches. Habiéndose
animado a inmigrar a los Estados Unidos en busca en una mejor vida para sus
hijos, la familia se dirigió hacia la Montaña Hood, que Pablo consideró el área
más hermosa del Noroeste Pacífico.
“El vio lo que todo el mundo aquí ve; es un lugar perfecto
para criar una familia,” comenta su hija, María de los Angeles Burke, quien
llegó a la Montaña a los cinco años.
Al llegar, recuerda Burke, la familia vio por primera vez la
nieve. Creyeron que ya era la navidad.
Pablo contaba con una visa de trabajo que le otorgaba el
permiso de radicar en los Estados Unidos, pero no fue así para su familia. Al
principio, tenían la esperanza de vivir aquí y visitar a sus familiares en
México cuando el tiempo y las finanzas lo permitieran.
Dice María que “resultó más complicado.”
Cada quien tuvo que luchar por encontrar su propio camino
hacia la ciudadanía americana. Los retos y los cambios del sistema migratorio
aún marcan sus vidas tres décadas después.
La familia llegó aquí porque el empleador de Pablo se había
comprometido a arreglar la residencia legal de todos, pero la promesa quedó sin
cumplir. Todo se volvía más difícil con el paso de los años. Después del 11 de
septiembre se endurecieron las leyes migratorias en el país. La cantidad de
detenidos y deportados se incrementó y se recortaron las oportunidades para la
inmigración legal.
Los Saldívar tuvieron que elegir: quedarse en los Estados
Unidos sin papeles y no volver a México, o regresar a su país natal, dando la
espalda a su vida aquí. Agrega Burke que es importante apreciar los sacrificios
que hicieron sus papás por sus hijos.
“Mi mamá dejó todo lo que conocía (en México),” dice Burke.
“Dejó a sus papás sin poder volverlos a ver. Cuando fallecieron, no pudo
despedirse de ellos. Pues si hubieran ido, no habrían podido regresar a los
Estados Unidos.”
“No creo que haya sido una decisión muy fácil para ella,”
agrega. “Mis hijos nunca han experimentado dificultades y es importante que
entiendan los sacrificios que hicieron sus abuelitos.”
Ahora con 35 años de edad, Burke comenta que al llegar a la
Montaña la familia se vio ante muchos desafíos. La escuela era particularmente
difícil, pues sus papás no podían comunicarse con los maestros. Aunque recuerda
que algunos maestros trataban de ayudarle, otros consideraban que era una “causa
perdida.”
Las dificultades le siguieron en la secundaria, en donde
Burke nunca llegó a sentirse aceptada. Incluso modificó su segundo nombre para
que fuera más fácil de pronunciar en inglés.
“Me sentía rechazada e incompleta,” dice.
Después de egresarse de la secundaria, Burke se fue a vivir
en Idaho, donde encontró trabajo en el punto de venta de una empresa regional.
Pronto ascendió, llegando a ser gerente itinerante con un alcance de cinco
locaciones en el noroeste. Pero cuando le dijo a su jefe que no tenía papeles,
se redujo significativamente su sueldo. Así que decidió regresar a Oregón para
tomar clases en el colegio comunitario de Mount Hood.
Al endurecerse las leyes después de su regreso a Oregón,
Burke no pudo renovar su licencia de conducir. El camino a la ciudadanía
parecía cada vez más lejano. Aun cuando se enamoró y se casó con un residente
de Mountain en 2007, el proceso seguía siendo largo, complicado, engorroso y
caro. Y además, tuvo que regresar a México a esperar durante un tiempo
indefinido.
En 2011, Burke recibió un permiso de trabajo, lo que le
permitió trabajar sin miedo de ser deportada o explotada. En 2013, se volvió
residente permanente. Y en marzo, realizó su entrevista en la Oficina de
Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos, y ahora ya es ciudadana.
Burke pasó meses preparándose para el examen de ciudadanía
con la ayuda de su esposo y sus cuatro hijos. Dice que había preguntas
difíciles, pero a fin de cuentas descubrió que la constancia de ciudadanía no
le hacía sentirse tan “completa” como había anticipado.
“No soy distinta ahora con la ciudadanía,” comenta. “Sigo siendo María de los Ángeles Burke. Soy la
misma mamá cariñosa y dedicada. Soy una exitosa propietaria y gerente de una casa
de vacaciones y ayudo con el negocio de tala y leña de mi esposo. He hecho contribuciones
positivas a la comunidad. Y todo lo hice sin este papelito.”
Vanessa Saldívar tenía apenas un mes cuando su familia llegó
a la Montaña. Creció sin saber de su condición migratoria. Era buena
estudiante, gracias a que su hermana mayor María le inculco un amor al estudio.
“Recuerdo muy bien cómo jugábamos escuela, mi hermana y yo,
sólo que era algo muy serio para ella,” dice Vanessa. “No quiso que yo pasara
por los mismos desafíos que ella tuvo que pasar en la escuela.”
Por sus logros académicos, Vanessa fue reconocida como
Becario Hispano Nacional y al graduarse en 2006 se le ofrecieron becas de
varias universidades a través del país. Pero a la hora de aceptar la beca, la mejor
estudiante de su generación (hasta terminó la secundaria a los 17 años, un ano
temprano) descubrió que no podía, pues no tenía documentos.
“Me destrozó,” dice Vanessa, quien ahora tiene 30 años.
Para seguir su sueño de la educación, asistió a clases en el
Colegio Comunitario de Mount Hood, donde no tenía que probar su condición
migratoria. Vanessa dice que muchos de sus compañeros no entendían por qué no aceptó
las becas.
“No tenía sentido, porque no sabían de mi situación legal,”
dice. “En realidad, no me conocían.”
En 2012, por medio de DACA se le otorgaron protección
temporal de la deportación y el permiso de solicitar un número de seguro
social. Continuó con sus estudios, llegando a terminar la Maestría en Estudios
Migratorios en la Universidad de San Francisco en mayo del año pasado. Hace
ocho años que trabaja en el área de derecho migratorio.
El trabajo de Vanessa también ha sido reconocido a nivel
nacional. En 2015, la revista del New York Times publicó un artículo sobre su
apoyo a los refugiados centroamericanos.
Sin embargo, su propio camino de la inmigración aún no
termina. Vanessa quiere hacerse ciudadana, pero después de ver las experiencias
de su hermana, reconoce que el proceso podría resultar emocionalmente
complicado para ella también.
“Me imagino que será difícil asimilarlo todo,” dice. “Ha
sido difícil reconciliar la realidad de que el lugar donde has vivido toda tu
vida, el lugar que tú consideras como tu hogar, no te reconoce ni te acepta enteramente.”
Para ella, añade, Welches es su hogar y quizás vuelva a la
Montaña para criar sus hijos. Pero, pensando en el camino de su familia,
reconoce que a veces se pregunta si la comunidad le acogerá con el mismo cariño
que ella siente por la comunidad cuando se sepa la verdad de su situación
legal. “Hay un sentimiento de soledad cuando la gente no te conoce de verdad,”
dice Vanessa. “Creo que mi comunidad nunca me ha visto de verdad y me preocupa
pensar que algunas personas de la Montaña podrían no entender los sacrificios
que mis papás hicieron por nosotros.”
Sin embargo, dice, “sería maravilloso sentir su comprensión
y apoyo.”
La familia llegó a la Montaña con dos hijos varones también.
No los entrevistamos para esta historia y no mencionamos sus nombres en respeto
a su privacidad. El menor ya es un residente permanente en espera de la ciudadanía.
El hijo mayor, al llegar aquí a los seis años, sufrió por
ser el único no blanco de su salón y por carecer de apoyos. Siendo ya
adolescente y adulto, las dificultades siguieron y hace más de cinco año fue
deportado, dejando atrás a su esposa, quien es ciudadana, y sus tres hijos
chiquitos.
“El fue muy buen padre y quiso mucho a sus hijos,” dice
Vanessa. “Creo que todavía no lo asimila totalmente, y siendo una familia muy
unida, nosotros tampoco.
Christina, la más chica, nació después de la llegada de la familia
a la Montaña, por lo que siempre ha sido ciudadana. No fue sino ahora está
estudiando en la universidad la carrera de trabajo social que descubrió los
retos complicados que su familia ha atravesado desde su llegada a la Montaña.
“Mientras ya exploraba la historia de mi familia desde la
perspectiva del trabajo social, quería entender cómo el hecho de ser una
familia inmigrante ha marcado de maneras distintas nuestras identidades,” dice
Christina de 23 años. “Yo no entendía lo que significaba crecer con una
condición legal distinta a la de mis hermanos, pero sabía que era un privilegio
que ellos no tenían. Quiero usar sus experiencias como una plataforma para
abogar por otras familias como la mía. Tengo que luchar por navegar los
espacios de ser tanto americana como mexicana, y a veces no me siento
totalmente ni una ni otra cosa, sobre todo ahora.”
Christina es una persona conocida en la Montaña por su
trabajo en varias empresas y sus actividades en la comunidad. Pero comenta que
la gente quizás no se dé cuenta de que los trabajadores inmigrantes
latinoamericanos están por todos lados.
“Nosotros no somos los únicos latinos aquí.” Agrega Burke
que le gustaría ver que la comunidad apreciara las distintas culturas. “Hay
tantas familias más y cada una tiene su propia historia. Me encantaría ver que
sus historias también se cuenten.”
También ven los retos que enfrenta la comunidad migrante
actualmente en el país, con un gobierno que “sistemática y estratégicamente los
deshumaniza,” señala Vanessa.
“Creo que es una labor muy importante realzar la humanidad
de la gente y unir la comunidad,” dice, agregando que compartir la historia de
familia implica cierta vulnerabilidad. “Estamos nerviosos, pero creemos que ya
un momento importante para conectarnos de manera auténtica con nuestra
comunidad. Esperamos que algo bueno pueda resultar.”
En cuanto a María, la decisión de dejar su casa en México y
traer a su familia a la Montaña en busca de una mejor vida ha valido la pena, a
pesar de todos las dificultades que han experimentado en estos años.
“Creo que ha sido para bien,” dice. “Siento que ha valido la
pena. Veo a mis hijos, exitosos y contentos. Veo crecer a mis nietos. Veo a mis hijos, les va bien. Me siento
bien.”
Por Garth Guibord y traducido por Vanessa Saldívar/MT
|
| Federal and state climate legislation buoyed by ski resorts posted on 05/01/2019
The Oregon ski industry provides an estimated 6,772 jobs and
more than $194.4 million in personal income annually, according to statistics
released by Mount Hood Meadows in February 2018. Much like the $20
billion-a-year national snow sports industry, the local Mountain economy faces
the potential impact of climate change.
Timberline, Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, Summit, Cooper Spur and Mt.
Hood Meadows ski areas issued a joint statement of support for current carbon
emission reduction legislation on Feb. 20, 2019. The local ski area operators
came out in support of S. 3791/H.R. 763,
the Federal Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act and Oregon House Bill
2020, the Oregon Climate Action Program.
“We’re particularly vulnerable to climate change,” said
Timberline’s Director of Public Affairs and Planning, Jon Tullis, about the
winter sports industry in the Mount Hood area.
The annual amount of snow in the west has seen a reduction
of 41 percent on average since the early 1980s, with an average decrease of 34
days of snow season, according to new research published in the journal
Geophysical Research Letters in December 2018. Low snow seasons impact local
economies including ski resorts, restaurants and hotels, according to nonprofit
Protect Our Winter’s recently released 2018 economic report.
“For the ski operators on Mt. Hood, climate change could
mean shorter seasons, or no season at all,” said Representative Anna Williams,
House District 52. “That has broad implications for our larger mountain
community. Fewer tourist dollars hurt small business owners and the individuals
they employ,”
The ski area operators stated in a letter to state and
federal representatives, “The ski areas of Mt. Hood have been leaders in the
snow sports industry, and in our community, for early adoption of sustainable
business practices and advocacy for public policies that effectively address
reduction of carbon emissions.” They urged elected officials at both the state
and federal levels support the respective climate solutions legislation during
the current legislative session.
“We feel it’s our responsibility,” said Tullis. “It’s rare
for us to wade into politics but (we) wanted to speak on this issue.”
He added Timberline has taken a “strong stand” with the
National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) on climate change initiatives in the
past.
The Federal Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act has
bipartisan support and was reintroduced to the 116th United States Congress on
January 24. The act proposes a market-based approach to meeting emissions
reduction targets by charging a fee for carbon usage, while providing citizens
with a dividend.
The bill is currently in review by the Committee on Ways and
Means, the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Foreign
Affairs. It has received statements of support from major environmental
organizations, business and faith-based groups.
After the bill has
been debated and revised by committees it must pass votes in the U.S. House of
Representatives and the U.S. Senate before being signed into law by the
President.
At the state level, Oregon House Bill 2020 was reintroduced
to the 80th Oregon Legislative Assembly Feb. 4. The bill proposes the state
sets a limit, or cap, on greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2021. The cap
would be steadily reduced until carbon emissions are 80 percent below 1990 levels
by 2050. The bill is currently being reviewed by the Joint Committee on Carbon
Reduction. Oregon legislators have until the end of June to pass this bill into
law this session.
“Though there is still work to be done to refine the Climate
Action Program, I believe it could have a positive impact on our entire state,
allowing us to invest in the kind of 21st century economy that moves Oregon
forward,” Rep. Williams said about the current status of the bill.
A series of public hearings were held across the state in
February to present HB 2020 and address concerns about increased cost for
businesses and consumers due to higher fuel and energy costs.
“When asked how we felt about the potential increase to our
operating costs as the result of the passage of these bills, we proudly
responded that we are aware it costs more to do the right thing and we are
willing to pay the price,” said Heidi Logosz, sustainability manager and
executive administrator for Mt. Hood Meadows and Cooper Spur Mountain Resort.
“We know that if we don’t pay now, we’ll definitely be paying later.”
More information about the progress of HB 2020 can be found
online at https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2019R1/Measures/Overview/HB2020.
Information regarding the federal bill S. 3791/H.R. 763 can be found at
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/763.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Many county students not vaccinated against preventable diseases posted on 05/01/2019
The debate of whether or not to vaccinate, and the crisis
that accompanies it, has shot into Clackamas County.
County public health officials announced in mid-April that
despite vaccines being one of the safest and most effective health
interventions, the resulting preventable diseases are on the rise.
“For over fifty years, immunizations have saved more than a
billion lives and prevented countless illnesses and disabilities in the United
States,” said Dr. Sarah Present, Clackamas County Health Officer.
“Vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, mumps, and whooping cough, are
still a threat that continue to infect U.S. children, resulting in
hospitalizations and deaths every year.”
A Public Health Impact report released in April cited a
growing trend of delaying vaccinations, or exempting from them entirely, has
contributed to increases in vaccine-preventable outbreaks in the U.S. The
report also points to the lack of access to health care services being a
significant issue.
The vaccination coverage numbers in Clackamas County are
alarming. Of county kindergartners, 9.1 percent, or 397 total, have at least
one non-medical exemption, a figure that is higher than both the national and
state rates. Of K-12 students, 6.2 percent, or 3,820 total, have one or more
non-medical exemptions. County students K-12 have 3.4 percent, 2,124 total, who
are completely unvaccinated.
The U.S. is headed to surpass the record number of measles
since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000. The total number of new
cases reached 626 in late April, the highest number in five years. Twenty-two
states have reported cases of measles, including Oregon.
The reasons for the decline in vaccinations are complex and
likely driven by a mix of scientific, socioeconomic, sociocultural and
political factors, according to county health officials.
“Vaccines are not just about individual choices,” said
Richard Swift, Director of Clackamas County’s Health, Housing and Human
Services Department. “They are about our connection and responsibility to
others. Declining vaccine coverage has introduced a number of harmful
infectious diseases back into our communities and is threatening lives.”
More information is available on the health division’s
website at www.clackamas.us/publichealth.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Mountain business taps into the beverage market with MapleAqua posted on 05/01/2019
Stephen Ferruzza’s idea for his latest creation, the
MapleAqua line of beverages, began when his mother was diagnosed with cancer.
He took Chaga mushroom, combined it with maple sap and set it on the wood stove
to create a delicious black tea that is loaded in antioxidants.
When he added carbonation to the drink, an alternative to
energy drinks, sodas and more was born: MapleAqua, a sweet and bubbly beverage
now growing in popularity.
“The maple sap gives it a really nice flavor,” said
Ferruzza, known on the Mountain for his Rhododendron pizzeria, Al Forno
Ferruzza.
“We created MapleAqua to honor the flavors of the forest and
as an alternative to alcohol or sugary soft drinks,” he added. “It is intended
for relaxing and nurturing the body and spirit while providing vital energy on
the cellular level.”
Ferruzza noted that the endeavor started on a small scale,
but even after doubling production twice, the business is growing and he
recently added clients in Canada. The drink, licensed through the Oregon
Department of Agriculture, features a concentrate made in Rhododendron and the
final product produced back east, where the Ferruzza family also owns a farm
used to harvest the tree sap.
“The Rhody shop is a key to the whole deal,” Ferruzza said.
“That’s where our processing facility is.”
Two varieties are now available, ginseng and yerba matte,
with more flavors in the works. The drink also contains CBD, the
non-psychoactive substance in cannabis that has been used to treat various
ailments.
“It’s kind of a hot item right now,” Ferruzza said of CBD,
noting it is legal in all 50 states and safe for everyone to drink.
Ferruzza also added that the season to make the beverage is
limited to when they can tap their maple trees, but they currently have enough
to supply stores in Oregon, his two pizza parlors (including one in Portland
opening in June) and some stores back in New York. He plans on tapping more
trees on his family’s farm to increase production, with all tapping done in a
sustainable way, including using the smallest spouts available.
He noted that sports enthusiasts, including bicyclists, are
discovering the drink’s ability to help rehydrate, while seeing hikers, skiers
and other mountain visitors enjoying MapleAqua after a day out.
“It’s something everyone can enjoy, young or old,” he said.
And he has found other uses by turning the maple sap and
Chaga combination into a granulated sugar, perfect for adding to coffee,
signature cocktails, desserts and more at his restaurants.
Finally, Ferruzza also noted a new addition to the
Rhododendron location: a kids play area with a cotton candy machine featuring
(you guessed it) Chaga maple cotton candy.
“It’s a really unique product,” he said.
For more information, including area stores that carry
MapleAqua, visit MapleAqua.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| ‘Spring Fling’ benefits local nonprofit preschool posted on 05/01/2019
As spring arrives and new growth appears on the mountain, a
local nonprofit preschool and daycare in Welches prepares to raise funds for
its young students with a spring dinner and fundraising event.
The Mount Hood Learning Center (MHLC) is hosting its second
annual spring fundraising event from 5-9 pm on May 11, at Camp Arrah Wanna,
located at 24075 East Arrah Wanna Boulevard, Welches. The event includes a
“Spring Fling” dinner featuring food donated by local restaurants, as well as a
plant sale and a silent and oral auction of goods and services donated by local
businesses.
“We are one of the rare programs that offers a four-hour
daily preschool program, which helps children better prepare for their school
years,” MHLC representative Alicia Sperr said in an email. “Most of our
preschool students transfer to kindergarten as top of their class in academics
and readiness for school.”
MHLC was started in 2012 by a group of local mothers that
saw the need for a preschool and childcare in the Welches community. The MHLC
mission statement details the center’s commitment to “create a safe, nurturing
and developmentally appropriate environment in which children will develop
school readiness skills, but will also foster a passion for learning through a
hands-on program here in the Welches Community.”
MHLC is managed by a board of directors and an onsite main
director, Heather Purnick.
The program is operated in space leased from Welches
Elementary School but is not affiliated with the Oregon Trail School District.
The program currently serves approximately 100 children,
including the childcare program, and is funded by tuition and donations.
“Donations help to keep the tuition affordable for parents
so that more children may attend and receive care,” Sperr noted about the
center’s funding.
The “Spring Fling” dinner and auction is MHLC’s main yearly
fundraiser with all proceeds benefiting the center. There is no admission for
the event, but there is a cost for food, drinks and auction items.
The plant sale features landscape trees and shrubs donated
by local nurseries. All items in the silent and oral auction are donated,
including gift certificates to local restaurants, dinner cruises and condo
packages at destination resort areas, such as Collins Lake Resort.
The fundraiser also includes a 50/50 raffle and passes to
family fun adventures. The center is hoping to raise $15,000 at this year’s
event.
“We look forward to seeing the community support at our
event again this year,” Sperr said. She stated that each year has seen an
increase in local residents attending the center’s community activities.
More information about MHLC and the upcoming fundraiser are
available online at www.mthoodlc.com, on the MHLC Facebook events page, by
phone at 503-668-3868 or by email at Mthoodlc@gmail.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
|  Contributed photo.
(MT) – Mountain residents can obtain firewood cutting
permits for the Mt. Hood National Forest at the Zigzag Ranger District, 70220
Hwy. 26.
The permits sell for $10 per cord with a minimum charge of
$20 per permit. Residents may harvest up to 6 cords per household.
The U.S. Forest Service advises gatherers that some roads
may be inaccessible due to lingering winter conditions including fallen trees,
rock slides and snow accumulation.
Firewood availability may change from week to week depending
on supply and access and cutters are advised to refer to the current firewood
information sheet posted at the ranger district office and on the firewood web
page. Anyone cutting firewood must have in their possession a valid permit with
current firewood tags, a Mt. Hood Firewood Map and a current information sheet.
To maintain that Mount Hood has a sustainable firewood
program, gatherers need to adhere to the following guidelines: do not fall
standing trees, dead or alive; carry saws equipped with a .023-inch or smaller
mesh spark arrestor; a long-handled shovel with an 8-inch round point blade;
and a pressurized chemical fire extinguisher 8 ounces or larger.
Also, it is advised to call the local district office
(503-622-3191) for up-to-date conditions before going into the forest.
The Zigzag Ranger District is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(closed noon to 1 p.m.), Monday through Friday.
|
|  Stev Ominski
For Mountain residents the discovery of Stev Ominski’s art
could be contributed to his Siamese cats, Lewis and Clark. Except the true
discovery of Ominski’s work has gone far beyond.
The Rhododendron resident’s recent work titled “Age’s End”
depicts the classic view up the Columbia River Gorge during a Missoula Ice Age
flood which occurred some 20,000 years ago. This work – 24 inches high, 48
inches wide, rendered by acrylic on canvas – attracted the attention of the
Oregon Historical Society (OHS).
“The collections manager (from OHS), Nicole Yasuhara, contacted
me out of the blue and asked if they might use “Age’s End” to represent the Ice
Age floods in Oregon for their new permanent exhibit Experience Oregon (which
is) now open,” Ominski told The Mountain Times. “Of course, I was both pleased
and honored to have been selected by OHS. They purchased a digital file and
some limited use rights.”
The recent discovery element didn’t end there. Shortly after
that recognition Ominski was contacted by a graphic designer (Steve Johnston)
who was working with a group at the State Capitol installing an exhibit on the
roof of the dome and they thought Ominski’s depiction of the Ice Age
floodwaters slamming into Beacon Rock would fit in nicely with the exhibit.
“The Inundation of Beacon Rock” in the Columbia River Gorge
is now a part of the east-facing interpretive panel on the capitol’s dome roof.
“I’ve been working on this suite of Ice Age floods imagery
for over 25 years with the help and input from my friends and colleagues in the
geologic community,” he said.
The result has been that these works have been exhibited in
selected natural history museums and venues as well as used in lectures by
educators and newspapers and magazines and field guides, before the recent
local discoveries.
“It’s been an ongoing career commitment,” Ominski added.
Also appearing on Page 1 – “The Rowena Incident” – features
Ominski feigning a pending mammoth trampling. The mammoth size is in stride
with the subject matter, as the piece is 9.5 feet by 10 feet and is part of a
permanent collection at The Discovery Center in The Dalles. The “Incident” is
an acrylic on canvas with the selfie photo shot on a tripod with timer.
“I’m 12 years older now,” Ominski said of the enormous
canvas. “But I look much the same … with a bit longer, grayer hair in my beard
– the shaggy badger look.”
Ominski, 67, is primarily self-taught, and began his
professional career in the fine arts in 1970 working initially on landscapes
and subjects from the natural world.
His studio is open to free tours in Timberline Rim. Make
your own discovery of Ominski’s art by contacting him at stev@stevominski.com.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Sandy to close pool at end of May posted on 04/01/2019
Following a presentation by architecture firm Opsis on
Monday, March 11 and further discussion on Monday, March 18, the Sandy City
Council voted to temporarily close the Olin Bignall Aquatic Center on Friday,
May 31.
Sandy City Manager Jordan Wheeler told the Mountain Times
that the city needs to refine the vision for the pool, which is part of a
larger Sandy Community Campus idea that could cost as much as $70 million.
“It’s important for the public to know that the council
values the pool and sees it as a value for the public,” Wheeler said. “We’re
just now continuing on the path of talking about the Community Campus and what
the public’s vision and plan is for that campus.”
Wheeler, who became the City Manager in January, noted that
the city has seen some turnover on the council, including the mayor, and that
one of the goals established at a retreat in January was to develop a plan for
the Community Campus. But with the pool requiring approximately $350,000 per
year from the city’s general fund to keep it operating and the city seeing
other funding challenges, including PERS, police staffing and much needed
wastewater upgrades, closing the pool helps relieve the budget burden.
“That’s money that’s hard to come by,” Wheeler said. “These
are things the council had to weigh.”
The city will look into how to make improvements to the pool
while also examining sources of funding for its operations, including forming a
possible special taxing district. Wheeler noted that if the city does pursue a
special district or general obligation bond, it could appear on the ballot in
2020.
Wheeler added that the two council meetings where the fate
of the pool was discussed were both well attended and that the city’s residents
are “passionate” about the pool. And while the councilors considered keeping
the pool open until September, the estimated cost, approximately $80,000
according to Wheeler, factored heavily in the decision.
The final vote to close the pool was 6-1, with councilor Jan
Lee casting the dissenting vote. There is no date set for the closure to end.
An agreement between the city and the Oregon Trail School
District (OTSD) for the use of the pool by the district in exchange for waiving
fees for the city’s use of district facilities ended on Feb. 17. The city
estimated the fee for the district to use the pool, if it were to remain open,
at approximately $11,000. OTSD Communications Director Julia Monteith noted in
an email to the Mountain Times that the Athletics Director is looking into
alternatives for the district’s water sports teams, including possibly using
facilities at Mount Hood Community College.
Wheeler noted that the city will tackle a new budget in the
coming months and will have to consider ways to pay for a new wastewater
treatment plan and a gap in the public safety budget, including new fees for
those areas.
“That’s something that’s in the minds of the council as they
consider operations of a pool,” Wheeler said. “The council has to make some
choices now, maintaining level of service or reduce service to balance the
budget.”
Wheeler added that other options to help pay for the
wastewater could include grants or the state legislature. For more information
on the city’s current budget, read Sandy Mayor Stan Pulliam’s column on page 7
of this edition. For more information on the pool, visit https://www.ci.sandy.or.us/projects/
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Jayce Dempsey
Jayce and Teal Dempsey knew they wanted to build their
window and roof cleaning business with a focus on providing service to the
local community when they moved their family to Brightwood in 2018.
Jayce’s grandfather was from Sandy and had formerly served
as sheriff in the community for more than ten years, so the move to the Mount
Hood region from Michigan felt like a homecoming to the young couple.
Their family business, Mt. Squeegee, was started in the
summer of 2018 and is a fully licensed, insured and bonded cleaning company
that offers a variety of window and home exterior cleaning services.
“We’re going to be here in ten years when our kids graduate.
We’re trying to build long-term relationships,” Jayce said. “Our base is Boring
to Timberline Lodge.”
The couple built their business plan with their family in
mind and don’t intend to expand to a fleet of trucks.
“We like being a smaller company,” Dempsey said.
Mt. Squeegee provides window cleaning, gutter cleaning and
moss removal services with a focus on transparency and accountability to their
customers.
They offer before-and-after photography for gutter cleaning services
to provide proof the job was properly completed.
Copies of the company’s insurance are provided to all
customers and Dempsey utilizes “soft washing,” a detergent-based moss removal
system to avoid damaging property or voiding roof or siding warranties. Harness
and fall protection systems are used to assure safe work practices.
“We try to eliminate any uncomfortable element for
customers,” Dempsey said. “We pride ourselves for being an established, insured
business… not an uninsured, doing it on the weekend operation.”
Dempsey offers free estimates with on-the-spot quotes. The
business focuses on residential properties but also offers services for
commercial properties.
“I know we’re not the most experienced but feel we’re the
most passionate. We really care about what we do,” said Dempsey about the ethos
of the young company.
Jayce Dempsey and Mt. Squeegee can be reached by phone at
503-407-4549 or by email at jayce@mtsqueegee.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| New wine shop adds European wines and more to Mountain table posted on 04/01/2019
It’s official. You are now free to cancel that long-awaited
wine tour of Europe.
And there’s a bonus. Tax Day just got less taxing.
Cooper’s Wine Bar & Shop opens April 15 in the Hoodland
Shopping Center, next door to McKenzie Dental.
Shannon and John Thompson dipped into the wine business in
New York, working as servers, the building of a tasting room and the
agricultural side. But got serious with a more recent tour of the wine regions
of France and Germany.
“We will also source from some smaller regions such as
Georgia, Lebanon and Slovakia, for example, and we have been researching some more
great obscure wines,” Shannon Thompson told The Mountain Times. “Of course, we
will be featuring many great Pacific Northwest and West Coast wines.”
Shannon added that Cooper’s will also have two beers on tap
from new local brewers along with a good collection of European beers – stuff
you can’t get locally.
“We will also provide a small menu of charcuterie, cheeses
and accompaniments,” she said.
The immediate goal of the wife-husband team is to bring
community together and provide a wine experience to the local community, and
“to reach further out and bring in surrounding communities to enjoy wine along
with other events such as first read of the season for playhouses, poetry
night, book clubs and a place for locals to just gather in a quiet cozy atmosphere.”
Minor renovations to the space were required with the
biggest project being the wine bar. John also built wine storage and wine
displays. The shop will be designed to provide intimate space and cozy seating.
“We will also have a wine cellar for special tasting,”
Shannon said. “This will be the room where our wine will be stored (and
include) a big farmhouse table for special tasting and private events.”
The name was derived from the Thompson’s beloved dog,
Cooper, who died last year and was raised from a pup to 16 years. The Thompson
twins said they should name the bar after Cooper.
“I said that doesn’t make sense,” Shannon said. Then John
countered: “Actually it does. A cooper is a barrel maker.”
In that sense, Cooper was born again.
April 15 is a soft opening for the wine bar with a gala
planned for some time in May.
Cooper’s will operate Thursday through Monday, noon to 6
p.m. Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. Monday and Thursday, and noon to 10 p.m. Friday and
Saturday.
“But the weekend (hours) are not a hard close,” Shannon
said. “If we are busy, we will stay open. We are very excited for this new
adventure and hope that the community will enjoy exploring wines of the world
with us. We look forward to sharing a glass.”
And think of all the travel costs that will be avoided.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Rhody takes steps toward becoming a FIREWISE community posted on 04/01/2019
At the March 16 Rhododendron Community Planning Organization
(CPO) meeting, Hoodland Fire Chief John Ingrao offered a stark comparison of
wildfire threats to wildland-urban interface communities such as Rhododendron
and efforts these communities can take to lessen the severity of the inevitable
fires.
“Rhododendron is no different unfortunately than Paradise,
California,” he said, referencing the California town almost completely
destroyed by a 2018 wildfire.
The CPO motioned to begin the process of becoming a FIREWISE
certified community at the meeting, held at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort in
Welches.
Steve Graeper, CPO Board President has begun the process of
contacting the state to begin the FIREWISE assessment for Rhododendron. The
community will join Zig Zag, Government Camp and Timberline Rim Division 5 as
FIREWISE certified communities in the Mount Hood region.
FIREWISE is a program of the National Fire Protection
Association that performs fire risk assessments for communities and helps
residents work together to reduce risks and prevent losses in the case of
wildfire. The program provides grants to help establish 30-foot home ignition
defense zones around properties and aids home owners in educating themselves on
ways to protect their homes.
“Besides for medical responses, FIREWISE is the most
critical thing we have to deal with up here,” Ingrao said.
He stated that as an interface community, Rhododendron faces
greater threat from wildfires by being surrounded by forests in all directions,
with the Bull Run watershed to the north, Oregon Department of Forestry and
Bureau of Land Management land to the south and U.S. Forest Service land to the
east.
“It’s a ‘when’ not an ‘if’ that a fire is going to happen up
here,” said Jeremy Goers, assistant fire management officer for Mount Hood
National Forest. “The more work you do on your home and your structure the
higher the likelihood that we can save it.”
FIREWISE grants aid in the removal of debris, flammable
vegetation and materials from 30-foot parameters around structures. This
includes overhanging limbs and dense undergrowth as well as cutting and
removing dry grass and weeds.
Home owners are advised to prevent embers from entering
homes by covering exterior vents with fine mesh and preventing combustible
material from gathering near structures attached to the home like garages or
decks.
U.S. Forest Service ranger Bill Westbrook urged people to
keep roofs and gutters clean of debris to prevent embers from smoldering and to
keep spark arrestors on chimneys and chainsaws. “80 percent of our fires here
are human caused,” Westbrook said.
FIREWISE instructs community members to maintain clearly
marked emergency responder access to properties. Driveways should be at least
12 feet wide with a vertical clearance of 15 feet for emergency vehicle access
and adequate turn around. The program also aids in the development of a
community disaster and evacuation plan.
“It’s you helping us,” said Ingrao about the community
participating in the FIREWISE program.
In the case of a widespread wildfire, firefighters will
access properties to see if they have defensible parameters and are safe to
protect. Goers stated that they will drop black rocks in the drives of houses
that aren’t timely to save.
“We lost a lot of firefighters in California protecting
people’s homes,” said Goers. “It’s a shame.” He added they will have to pick
and choose considering safety and time.
Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District will
be holding a “Keep your home and property safe from wildfire” workshop at the
Hoodland Fire station, 69634 Hwy. 26, Welches on April 4th from 6 p.m. to 8
p.m. Pre-registration is required. Contact Clackamas Soil and Water
Conservation District at 503-210-6000 or by email at
tguttridge@conservationdistrict.org to reserve a seat.
More information about the FIREWISE program is available
online at www.firewise.org.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| A colossal cup of coffee for a considerable cause posted on 04/01/2019
It’s April, so it must be Welches Wildcat Coffee month.
Nine years ago, Cheryl Gundersen came to Mt. Hood Roasters
Company and proposed a coffee fundraiser for the Welches elementary and middle
schools. Roasters proprietor Rick Applegate embraced the idea and the
fundraiser was born.
Over the years more than $25,000 have been raised for the
local schools by the community purchasing Wildcat coffee from the school
children.
“This year we hope to bring that number to the $30,000
plateau,” Applegate wrote in an email to The Mountain Times. “To do this we
need to sell 1,000 bags of coffee that will earn the school $4,500. If they
meet that goal, Mt. Hood Roasters will donate an additional $500 to make the
grand total $5,000.”
Sales incentives for the students are focused on community
activities. Every child that sells one bag of coffee gets a prize, and the bounty
increases with bigger sales. Prizes include hot chocolate and latte from
Roasters, ice cream from Rhododendron Dairy Queen or Sandy Baskin Robbins,
passes to Wippersnappers Kids Play Place, tickets to Mt. Hood Theater, all the
way to a one-year family pass to the Oregon Zoo or OMSI. (A full list of prizes
appears in the Mt. Hood Roasters ad on Page 32.)
“The fundraiser leaves the proceeds here in the community by
raising money for the school, buying incentives from local companies, and
creates work for local employees who manufacture and package the products,”
Applegate wrote. “(And) finally, it is a quality product that is custom
packaged for the school.”
Residents are urged to contact a Welches student to make the
goal a reality and provide funding for needed school resources. This year the
fundraiser is focusing on purchasing more computers for the classrooms.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
|  ‘Boots and Cane,’ by Sherry Ludwig
Beth Verheyden, an art teacher with a studio in Boring, has
been a part in the Lake Oswego Reads Artist Exhibition events and saw an
opportunity to bring something similar to Sandy.
And last year, Verheyden put the challenge forward to her
students: read “This Road We Traveled,” by Jane Kirkpatrick, and create a piece
of art inspired by it.
This month, the results will be on display with a show at
the Sandy Public Library, 38980 Proctor Blvd. in Sandy, on Friday, April 12,
which will include an appearance by the authors and the opportunity for
visitors to get a book signed.
“It’s been one of my greatest challenges and greatest
rewards as an artist,” Verheyden said about the process of creating art from a
book she’s read.
The book offers the story of Tabitha (Tabby) Brown and her
family’s journey in 1845 over the Oregon Trail from Missouri. Tabby became the
founder of Pacific University in Forest Grove and was also named as the “Mother
of Oregon” by the Oregon Legislature.
Approximately half of Verheyden’s students took up the
challenge, resulting in 25 original paintings that will be on exhibit at the
AntFarm Cafe in Sandy, 39140 Proctor Blvd. from April 12-29.
Welches artist Steve Ludeman, a student of Verheyden’s,
noted the book was based on the journals and other writings of Brown, and that
it came across more as a modern tome.
“The book is very contemporary,” he said. “Even though it
talks about early pioneers on the trail, (it’s) centered around a real person.
This Tabitha Brown is quite a character.”
Ludeman added that the book is a timely one as it deals with
women in leadership roles, a theme currently in the news.
The author presentation and book signing, which will also
include Stafford Hazelett, author of “Wagons to the Willamette” and descendant
of Tabby Brown, will take place between 4-5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 12 at the
library, while the artists’ reception and another book sale and signing will be
held after, from 6-8 p.m. at the AntFarm Cafe, which will include catering by
AntFarm and live music by Michael Swanson on Oboe and David Blanchard on guitar.
Verheyden noted that her students are very excited for the
event and that it could be the start of a regular program in Sandy similar to
the one in Lake Oswego.
“It’s been so positive and good for (my students),” she
said. “I think that the community is ready for it. The Ant Farm is so
supportive of the arts, the library is so supportive of the arts.”
All works of art will be for sale, with part of the proceeds
benefiting AntFarm’s youth programs.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Museum design
If you want to read every issue of Ski Magazine, Skiing
Magazine or Snowboarder Magazine, you don’t have to go far. Every issue of
those periodicals is part of the collection of the Mount Hood Cultural Center
and Museum - and that’s not to mention skis from every era and corner of the
world, photos from the biggest moments on Mount Hood and so much more.
And while many of these treasures now reside tucked away in
the building’s basement, the museum hopes to make them more visible with an
expansion project that will nearly double the current space. To fund the
project, the museum has kicked off its Capital Campaign for Museum Expansion,
with hopes to raise $20 million dollars and a plan to complete three phases over
approximately 10 years.
“We’re excited,” said the museum’s curator, Lloyd Musser.
“We think we’ll be a continuing benefit to the whole community, not just
Government Camp.”
Musser noted the museum, which started 20 years ago, is in a
healthy position, being debt-free and attracting approximately 25,000 visitors
per year. It also has a financial reserve and started an endowment with a
bequest from an estate.
But the building no longer has space for its archives, needs
an expanded meeting space and can increase its visibility with an entrance
closer to the street.
“This became the community center; town meetings regularly
fill up to capacity,” Musser said. “It’s time (to expand).”
Phase 1 of the project would include the expansion of the
museum’s “Clubhouse Gallery,” archives and deck. Musser noted this phase would
be a “small chunk to bite off” as they get started with finding funding and it
would offer some storage space to help hold collections during later phases.
“The deck is important in summer time for overflow parties
and receptions,” he said.
Phase 2 would include expansions to the east and west wings,
increasing exhibit space and improving the research library on the East Wing.
This phase would also include reworking the museum’s roof line to alleviate
ongoing damage from heavy snow on the current roof’s complicated layout.
Musser added that a new roofline could open the possibility
for solar panels, although more research was needed to understand if this type
of installation would be appropriate with the winter snow.
Phase 3 would include the creation of a new second-story
event hall with a view of Mount Hood, which could be used for private parties,
traveling exhibits and community meetings and would also feature an attached
catering kitchen, while also expanding the gift shop and lobby on the first
floor. The final phase would also include plazas on both sides of the museum,
possibly featuring a food cart area, space for bikes, native plants and public
art, with a space for a possible future Steiner Cabin exhibit (not included in
the budget for the expansion).
Musser noted this last phase would help with some of the
current building’s greatest limitations, including the cramped entryway, very
limited space in the gift shop and the lack of visibility from the street. And
while the event hall, with a capacity of approximately 200 people, would do
wonders for the events such as the Social History Happy Hours that happen on
the last Friday of each month and have trouble fitting all the participants, it
would also serve as a perfect space for travelling and special exhibits.
“You can get travel exhibits from the Smithsonian,” Musser
said. “We’d like to do more of them, but we don’t have space (now).”
Musser noted that the museum will seek out a large portion
of the fundraising efforts from grants, but that they will also need to raise
20 percent of the total from donors.
Donors can already receive a fused glass sculpture for a
$1,000 contribution, with more ideas for different levels of support, such as
an honor plaque and possibly doing an inscribed brick campaign for Phase 3.
Musser expects to visit local groups to discuss the project and even visiting
house parties where he can encourage interested individuals to help.
In the meantime, the collection that inhabits almost every
shelf and corner of the current building keeps growing, as people offer
artifacts from Mount Hood’s history to the museum.
“I’m still amazed at what comes through the door every
week,” Musser said.
For more information, visit mthoodmuseum.org.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Mount Hood Village RV Resort ends community access to facilities posted on 03/01/2019
For almost 35 years Mount Hood Village RV Resort allowed
local residents to purchase day-use or month passes for access to the indoor
and outdoor pool, sauna and gym facilities at the resort. This long-standing
tradition was brought to an end in the middle of January, leaving some locals,
in the words of community member Janet Lemke, feeling “devastated” and
struggling to maintain therapeutic exercise routines while missing the sense of
community the facilities provided in the region.
Welches resident Uma Chodron has been swimming at the RV
resort for 12 years. She stated that she is retired, lives on a fixed income
and used the facilities as a form of physical therapy to deal with pain from
hip surgeries and issues with her spine.
“A lot of the older swimmers used the pool for exercise and
therapy,” Chodron said. Now she drives an additional 15 miles each direction to
Sandy to swim at an increased cost and is finding herself exercising less due
to the distance. “It’s a trek compared to what it was,” she said about her new
routine.
Susie Anderson, local business owner of the Rendezvous Grill
in Welches, has had an even longer experience utilizing the facilities at the
RV resort.
“I’m very sad. I’ve been going there for over 30 years,”
Anderson said. She added the closure was “literally an overnight thing,”
announced with the posting of a sign and left many locals feeling mistreated.
“As a business owner and a member of the community I know
it’s always good to take care of the community,” Anderson stated about the
abrupt end of access to the RV resort.
Welches resident Janet Lemke has also relied on swimming at
the RV resort as physical therapy for a back injury that resulted in surgery
eight years ago.
“I met a lot of people in the community there … I miss my
friends,” Lemke said. She described the community use of the facilities as
varying from toddler swim classes to elderly aerobics classes and lap swimmers.
“I feel so hurt and betrayed,” she added. “Why would they do that to people in
the community?”
In response to inquiries about ending community access Mount
Hood Village RV Resort offered a statement to the Mountain Times in an email:
“As our newly expanded Mount Hood Village RV Resort has become an increasingly
popular destination, we made the decision to reserve the resort amenities for
guests staying on property. Our focus is ensuring that guests of Mount Hood
Village continue to receive the best possible experience.”
The Mount Hood Village RV Resort is operated as an Encore RV
resort and Thousand Trails RV campground, both of which are part of the Equity
LifeStyle family of resort communities. Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. is a
corporation based out of Chicago that brands itself as “the leading operator of
manufactured home communities, RV resorts and campgrounds in North America.”
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Mount Hood Village RV Resort ends community access to facilities posted on 03/01/2019
For almost 35 years Mount Hood Village RV Resort allowed
local residents to purchase day-use or month passes for access to the indoor
and outdoor pool, sauna and gym facilities at the resort. This long-standing
tradition was brought to an end in the middle of January, leaving some locals,
in the words of community member Janet Lemke, feeling “devastated” and
struggling to maintain therapeutic exercise routines while missing the sense of
community the facilities provided in the region.
Welches resident Uma Chodron has been swimming at the RV
resort for 12 years. She stated that she is retired, lives on a fixed income
and used the facilities as a form of physical therapy to deal with pain from
hip surgeries and issues with her spine.
“A lot of the older swimmers used the pool for exercise and
therapy,” Chodron said. Now she drives an additional 15 miles each direction to
Sandy to swim at an increased cost and is finding herself exercising less due
to the distance. “It’s a trek compared to what it was,” she said about her new
routine.
Susie Anderson, local business owner of the Rendezvous Grill
in Welches, has had an even longer experience utilizing the facilities at the
RV resort.
“I’m very sad. I’ve been going there for over 30 years,”
Anderson said. She added the closure was “literally an overnight thing,”
announced with the posting of a sign and left many locals feeling mistreated.
“As a business owner and a member of the community I know
it’s always good to take care of the community,” Anderson stated about the
abrupt end of access to the RV resort.
Welches resident Janet Lemke has also relied on swimming at
the RV resort as physical therapy for a back injury that resulted in surgery
eight years ago.
“I met a lot of people in the community there … I miss my
friends,” Lemke said. She described the community use of the facilities as
varying from toddler swim classes to elderly aerobics classes and lap swimmers.
“I feel so hurt and betrayed,” she added. “Why would they do that to people in
the community?”
In response to inquiries about ending community access Mount
Hood Village RV Resort offered a statement to the Mountain Times in an email:
“As our newly expanded Mount Hood Village RV Resort has become an increasingly
popular destination, we made the decision to reserve the resort amenities for
guests staying on property. Our focus is ensuring that guests of Mount Hood
Village continue to receive the best possible experience.”
The Mount Hood Village RV Resort is operated as an Encore RV
resort and Thousand Trails RV campground, both of which are part of the Equity
LifeStyle family of resort communities. Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. is a
corporation based out of Chicago that brands itself as “the leading operator of
manufactured home communities, RV resorts and campgrounds in North America.”
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Fire district seeks funds for Deputy Chief with levy posted on 03/01/2019
In a unanimous decision during a February meeting, the board
of directors of the Hoodland Fire District approved putting a Local Option Levy
on the May ballot to fund a Deputy Chief position. The district has lacked an
officer in that position since John Ingrao took over as Chief after Mic Eby’s
retirement at the end of 2016.
Chief Ingrao, who served as the Deputy Chief under Eby,
noted several benefits to adding a Deputy Chief, including always having three
paramedics on duty and having a second command officer to ensure proper
coverage in the district.
“It’s an issue, there’s no department that only has one
chief, except for small rural ones,” Ingrao said, adding that he would like to
retire next year. “To me, it is a matter of succession planning (and) resources
to go on multiple calls.”
The levy, set to last for five years, would have a rate of
25 cents per thousand on property in the district, resulting in a charge of
approximately $38 on a house with a valuation of $150,000. Ingrao acknowledged
that nobody wants higher taxes, but the district is unable to add the position
with the current finances.
“It’s just a healthy thing for an organization and there’s
no other way for us to get to it with the budget,” he said.
Ingrao added that after he became Chief, it was decided that
the district should go to 24-hour staffing (before then, paid staff covered the
district for 12 hours per day, leaving a hole in advanced life support
coverage). To reach that level, the Deputy Chief position was left vacant; a
plan that was intended to last for 18 months but has now stretched past two
years.
To gauge the feasibility of a levy being passed by voters,
the board hired Campbell DeLong Resources, Inc., which conducted phone polling
in January this year. 152 voters answered a variety of questions, with the
analysis revealing 70 of those polled as likely to vote for the levy “if the
election were held today,” based on their initial reaction.
82 percent of the respondents categorized themselves as
people who “always vote,” and the same percentage have lived in the area served
by the HFD for more than 10 years. The average age of respondents was 67. 56
percent of the voters polled reported contact by themselves or a family member
with the HFD in the past year.
71 percent of the voters polled noted the HFD offered
“excellent service,” while 61 percent saw the district as being efficient with
tax money.
Should the levy be approved by voters in the May election,
Ingrao noted the position is unlikely to be filled from within due to the
number of classes and certifications required.
Ingrao added that it has been more than 20 years since the
district asked the community to approve a levy.
Ingrao plans on presenting the levy to local service
agencies, faith-based groups and other organizations in the coming months.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Mirror Lake Trailhead
The US Forest Service (USFS) was expected to release the
Mount Hood Annual Report for 2018 at the end of February, offering a look at
all that transpired on the Mount Hood National Forest last year. Laura Pramuk,
Public Affairs Officer for the (USFS), noted one of the aspects the report
highlighted was all the progress that has been made in fish restoration.
“That’s been a real testament to our commitment to fish
restoration on the Mount Hood National Forest,” she said, adding that a number
of program partners, including the Freshwater Trust, the Clackamas River Basin
and the Sandy River Watershed Council have been involved throughout. “That’s
been a real accomplishment for the forest.”
Specific projects highlighted in the report include:
– the completion of the Zigzag water system improvement
project to connect the Zigzag Ranger Station to a municipal water supply (Rhododendron
Water).
– replacing two undersized culverts with a bridge on the
upper Marco Creek to benefit native resident fish and aquatic organisms, and
minimize the potential for a primary arterial road to washout.
– decommissioning of seven miles of roads decommissioned in
lower Collawash and Oak Grove Fork, and the Middle Clackamas River watersheds
that crossed or paralleled stream corridors, and were located on large,
unstable earthflow landforms. Decommissioned roads were re-planted with native
seedlings and grass seed.
– the Ant Farm crew, consisting of youth from Sandy,
assisted the Zigzag Trail Crew in the Sandy River Basin, including work on
Mirror Lake Trail, Little Zigzag Falls Trail and rehabilitation activities in
the Salmon River Corridor and Old Maid Flats where inappropriate or illegal dispersed
camping and dumping often occurs.
– trained 60 volunteers with Trailkeepers of Oregon for the
first Trail Skills college volunteer training event held on the Zigzag Ranger
District.
– relocated the Mirror Lake Trailhead and added 1.4 miles of
accessible trail. The new trailhead project provides a more sustainable and
safe alternative to roadside parking. The project also improved drainage and
parking improvements at Skibowl, and included improvements to the intersection
of Glacier View and Hwy. 26.
– trail Crew, volunteers and partners maintained 406 miles
of trail.
– replaced the Buttercup ski lift at Mt Hood Meadows. The
new lift is a SkyTrac fixed grip quad which doubles capacity and will run 30
percent faster than the old Buttercup, thanks to a conveyor that beginners step
on that matches their speed to the lift chair.
– in the first year of the multi-year Upper Sandy Watershed
Restoration Action Plan, The Freshwater Trust, Bureau of Land Management and
USFS teamed up to restore all non-Wilderness instream reaches of Lost Creek and
fully restored Cast Creek in 2018. The partners placed 945 logs and whole trees
to construct 70 wood jams and reconnected 5,639 feet of historic floodplain
side channels.
– in the “Marco Reach” of the West Fork Hood River, a large
wood placement project was completed in collaboration with the Confederated
Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon and Weyerhaeuser Columbia
Timberlands. Approximately 60 trees were hand-tipped and 180 alders hand-felled
into a 0.7-mile reach of the river to create log jam structures just upstream
of Marco Creek.
– the USFS partnered with Portland General Electric to
replace an undersized and failing culvert with an open-bottom arch, benefitting
resident native fish and aquatic organisms, and mitigating the potential for a
major failure of Forest Service Road 45, offering access to tens of thousands
of acres.
– the 2018 fire season was below average in the number of
ignitions and acres burned. In all, 54 ignitions for 89 acres occurred on the
MHNF. Fifty-two fires were human caused with the remainder started by
lightning. Resources from the MHNF supported neighboring cooperators and
National Forests including Oregon Department of Forestry, the Columbia River
Gorge National Scenic Area, Willamette National Forest, and the Confederated
Tribes of Warm Springs (CTWS), in addition to many fires in the Pacific
Northwest and the Western United States.
Meanwhile, Pramuk shared that 2019 includes a few notable
projects, including replacing a culvert on the 2612 Road (Still Creek Road)
during the summer. This culvert is located near Mile Post 7 on a tributary to
Still Creek and is the final project of the Watershed Restoration Action Plan
for Still Creek.
The MHNF and Sandy River Basin Partners acquired grants of
nearly $2.2 million dollars that resulted in significant improvements in
habitat quality, water quality and ecosystem function in Still Creek. From 2012
through 2019, in-stream restoration actions impacted more than eight miles of
the Still Creek main channel and an estimated 185 acres of floodplain habitat.
2019 will also see a new electrical system improvement
project at Timberline Lodge to address the cleaning and maintenance of
electrical service equipment, replacement of obsolete equipment and creating a
current set of schematics for the electrical systems. The project will include
the historic lodge and the newer day lodge.
The contract has not been awarded yet but could begin this
summer or fall, and it may cause minor disruptions to visitor services at the
lodge. The current electrical system is out of date and improvements are needed
to bring the lodge’s system up to current code.
“There's a lot of enthusiasm on the forest because we are
making some substantive progress on long standing projects,” Pramuk said.
“(But) there’s always more work to do.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Haro bike
It didn’t take long for Mt. Hood Bicycle to gain the
attention of scroungers looking for a score.
Located in the Hoodland Shopping Center, the bicycle shop
held its grand opening less than a year ago, featuring bicycle sales, parts,
accessories and repairs. But proprietor George Wilson was initiated to another
all-too-often Mountain event when, in the wee hours of Feb. 21, his shop was
vandalized.
“I received a phone call (that morning) at 6:30 a.m. letting
me know the shop had been broken into,” Wilson said. “I immediately called the
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), got dressed, drove to the shop,
expecting to have been cleaned out.”
But, to Wilson’s eye, the culprit had something specific in
mind. He stepped through the broken glass left from the remains of a glass
entry door and determined it was a “quick job.”
“The (expletive deleted) who did it just wanted the Haro
full-suspension e-Bike,” Wilson said. “Nothing else was stolen. There is some
irony however, as the idiot didn’t realize there was a battery charger that
went with the bike.”
Wilson added that the charger is still sitting on the shelf
if the (same expletive) wants to come and get it. “I’ll be waiting.”
It should be noted, Wilson said, that the stolen bicycle was
a large frame size, had been upgraded with Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR tires, and
grips changed to match the neon yellow striping, making it fairly easy to be
identified.
“There aren’t that many 2018 Haro Shift i/o e-Bikes to be
found in the Pacific Northwest,” Wilson said. “It should stand out.”
CCSO was on the scene by 7:30 a.m., according to Wilson, and
Mt. Hood Glass from Gresham arrived even sooner.
“I must say I am thoroughly impressed with Mt. Hood Glass,”
Wilson said. “One guy came and cleaned up the glass, measured the door, called
in the dimensions to the warehouse in Boring, they cut it right away and sent
two other guys to install the glass … They damn near had the job finished
before the sheriffs arrived.”
Wilson’s insurance deductible is $1,000, so the loss is
considerable. Cameras have since been installed to enhance the security of the
site beyond the alarm system.
Subsequently, Wilson has sent the information out via
Facebook and has reached more than 1,500 people.
“Hopefully, I find it before there has been too much
damage,” he said.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Incomplete picture on state of federal lands following shutdown posted on 03/01/2019
While Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California
reportedly experienced damage that could be felt for decades, if not hundreds
of years, during the record 35-day government shutdown in January, the federal
lands on Mount Hood seem to have avoided a similar fate.
Jennifer Velez, Public Affairs Officer for the Northwest
Oregon District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), noted that the main
problem they encountered after the shutdown was trash. Recreation staff
conducted assessments of all recreation sites when they returned to work, and
Velez noted that it took approximately 30 hours to clean up the trash.
“Thanks to any visitors on BLM who picked up trash or served
as stewards to public lands,” Velez said. “A huge thank you. We know that made
a difference.”
The Northwest Oregon District has approximately 250
permanent employees, Velez added, noting that some were considered “essential”
and did continue to work during the shutdown, including law enforcement. She
added that they do have standard operating procedures they go through in the
event of a shutdown, but they find out about it at the same time as the general
public.
The fate of the Mount Hood National Forest (MHNF), however,
was unclear as representatives from the MHNF declined to comment on what, if
any, damage was reported, the total number of employees, the number of
employees who worked during the shutdown or any steps the MHNF takes in the event
of a shutdown.
Laura Pramuk, Public Affairs Officer for the US Forest
Service (USFS), referred the Mountain Times to online documents, including
Field Operational Updates for each state that were last updated in late
January, and a blog post by Chief Vicki Christiansen titled “Resume, Recover,
Rest” and addressing the USFS employees. Neither addressed the questions
submitted by the Mountain Times.
Pramuk added that law enforcement staff worked during the
furlough, but that the Washington office wouldn’t answer specific questions.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  "The Villain of Virtue"
“The Villain of Virtue” had its premiere at the Nutz-n-Boltz
Theater Company (NNB) in 2013. The melodrama, co-written by husband and wife
duo and NNB founders Justin and Kelly Lazenby, will be restaged this month at
the theater, with an eye towards publishing the piece.
Justin, who directs the restaging, noted that he and Kelly
got to work last year on refining the play and that they are using the
rehearsal process to keep adding to it.
“Kelly and I, when we wrote it, had ideas of whose
characters were; then throw in the wildcard of an actor who hasn’t seen it,
doesn’t know the character, not part of process and they come up with fun new
ideas for the characters and the show itself,” he said.
The play is set in the Middle Ages in the Village of Virtue,
whose inhabitants suffer from the plague and high taxes. At the center of the
story is Chastity, a dim-witted damsel in distress, and her bucket, named Jill.
Justin noted that Heather King, the actor who plays
Chastity, has added a lot of funny moments by giving Jill a personality.
He added that the cast is made up of a variety of performers
who have been in previous NNB shows, making it a fun experience as they hone
the final script.
“This show is very much a big group of friends who have all
worked together and all get along great,” Justin said,
NNB presents “The Villain of Virtue,” March 1-24, at the
Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in Boring. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on
Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children and seniors,
and $11 for teachers and law enforcement. For more information, or to make
reservations, call 503-593-1295 or visit nnbtheater.com.
Comedy in Sandy
The first thing people ask director Erin Bass about the
Sandy Actors Theatre’s (SAT) production of “Fuddy Meers” is what the name
means. But they’re not likely to get a solid answer.
“I hate to spoil the surprise,” Bass said.
The comedy, written by David Lindsay-Abaire, offers the
story of Claire, a woman who has a rare form of amnesia that erases her memory
every time she goes to sleep. When she wakes up every morning, she remembers
nothing, so her upbeat husband has come up with a daily routine to provide her
with what she needs to know.
But things are thrown for a loop when a limping and lisping
man surprises her, and things get even odder as she is taken to a house where
she meets a stroke victim who may be her mother. The twists and turns of the
plot bring Claire closer to revealing her past life and what she has forgotten.
“It’s eccentricities and realism of its oddball characters really
attracted me to the story,” Bass said, noting she first read the script about
10 years ago and that the author’s writings have a wide range, from his first
play, “Rabbit Hole,” to the Broadway musical “Shrek” (based on the animated
movie). “He has an innate ability to bring utter pandemonium to the stage. He
has a very creative mind; it shows through in his writing.”
Bass added that the play includes some mature situations and
language, so she would not recommend it for children 12 years old or younger,
and that there are also some loud noises in it. But it is a theatrical
adventure that will surprise people.
“Sit back, buckle up and get ready for a really fun and zany
ride,” Bass said.
SAT presents “Fuddy
Meers” from Friday, March 22 through Sunday, April 14, at 17433 Meinig Ave.
(behind Ace Hardware). Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3
p.m. on Sundays.
Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, veterans and
students and $13 for children (reservations are recommended).
For more information, or to make reservations call
503-668-6834 or visit sandyactorstheatre.org.
‘Art’ continues at Sandy’s Wolfpack Theater
Yasmina Reza’s play, “Art,” offers the story of a work of
art and how it impacts the dynamics between Serg, who purchased the painting,
Marc, who says what he thinks, and Ivan, who aims to please his friends. Their
conversation moves from analysis of the painting to their own lives, as their
bonds are put to the test.
The Wolf Pack Theater presents “Art,” by Yasmina Reza and
translated by Christopher Hampton, through Sunday, March 10, at 39570 Pioneer
Blvd. in Sandy. Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on
Sunday.
Tickets are $18 for general admission and $15 for students
and seniors. Law enforcement, firefighters and veterans have free admission
with valid ID.
For more information, visit www.wolfpacktheater.com or call
541-772-2667.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| New online complaint form offers help with speeding problem posted on 02/01/2019
Through the windows of the Still Creek Inn, restaurateur
Brigette Romeo sees the traffic speeding on Hwy. 26 as they zip through
Rhododendron. Romeo, a Brightwood resident, noted the problem usually starts at
around 6:30 a.m. on the weekends with the arrival of skiers and snowboarders,
and then is repeated in the afternoon when they come down from the resorts.
“For people to cross the highway or turn, you’re taking your
life in your hands,” she said.
The issue of speeding and aggressive drivers is well known,
including to Sergeant Brian Jensen of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office
(CCSO).
“This used to be called Blood alley, that was a legitimate
nickname,” said Jensen, who has been in the CCSO since 1998.
Now, area residents will have another outlet through which
they can try to help solve the problem, with a new online complaint form to
flag traffic issues at https://web3.clackamas.us/up/forms/trafficcomplaint.jsp
or searching online for “Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office traffic complaint.”
Jensen noted that with the new system, the CCSO will be able
to track the entries, which will lead to a stronger police presence in the
areas that get more complaints.
“There’s going to be a response,” he said. “It’s going to be
documented and addressed. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”
Jensen added that the CCSO has a dedicated traffic team
featuring four deputies and a sergeant to cover the county (approximately
400,000 people). The team has done specific missions in the past and targeted a
certain area for a day, and Jensen noted that is a possibility for the
Mountain.
He added that the CCSO may get some grant money that would
add a focus in the Hwy. 26 corridor, but it is unknown when that might start.
Otherwise, increasing the police presence on the Mountain
beyond that may need funding from an enhanced service district, as suggested at
a recent community meeting.
But Romeo didn’t think that would be likely, considering the
response at that meeting.
“Everybody just about had a heart attack in the room,” she
said.
Romeo also noted that the traffic problems extend beyond
speeders, citing large trucks that park on the side of the road as another
issue she experiences while working in Rhododendron.
Senior Trooper Michael Reel of the Oregon State Police (OSP)
noted they have one officer assigned to Government Camp and that traffic safety
is the number one concern. OSP officers spend most of the time on state
highways in the area, but that area stretches from the east side of Gresham
to the west side of the Warm Springs reservation.
“It’s a lot of highway for one trooper to cover,” said Reel,
a 15-year veteran of the OSP.
Reel added that from his point of view, speeders have been
fairly consistent in how much they go over the speed limit, with only a couple
times per year exceeding 100 MPH. He did note that he has recently noted an
uptick of speeders who are local to the mountain.
“I don’t’ know what that’s attributed to,” he said.
Jensen stressed that all drivers are responsible for their
own speed, and despite how many times people have offered the excuse that they
are going the same speed as others or driving with “the flow of traffic,” it is
not a valid one.
“You’re responsible to obey the law,” he said.
Jensen added that the new online complaint form is the best
way for Mountain residents to try and help solve the problem and that it will
be easier to justify an increased police presence if they have a large number
of complaints.
“I want people to not give up on us, to know that we are
aware that there is a problem that we are doing what we can; it’s important to
our office,” Jensen said. “The safety of the people up here is important to us.
They are our neighbors and they are our citizens, we want to do everything we
can to ensure their safety.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| County seeks statewide policy for flood hazards posted on 02/01/2019
Jan. 16 marked the eight-year anniversary of the 2011
flooding in the upper Sandy River Basin that washed out a section of Lolo Pass
Road, undercut the Zig Zag River bridge, swept away three homes and left a
swath of property damage with over 150 residents stranded by the rampaging
waters.
During a Jan. 19 Rhododendron Community Planning
Organization (CPO) Meeting held at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort, Jay Wilson,
resilience coordinator for Clackamas County Disaster Management, discussed
continued flood risks in the area.
“The Sandy (Basin) is just as capable and dangerous to
property in the future,” Wilson said, citing the historic flooding in 1964 that
destroyed 155 dwellings and the more recent 2011 event. “We need to have a
policy that gives us a framework to prepare for an event like this fairly.”
Wilson detailed county plans to request policy development
at the state level regarding Channel Migration Zones (CMZ) and their impact on
public safety and importance for healthy river habitats across the state. CMZ
are areas where river channels migrate laterally over time due to natural
processes of flooding and erosion. This natural movement of the river
throughout the floodplain provides a crucial breeding ground for endangered
salmon.
It also provides the potential for highly erosive flooding
with risk to property. CMZ are not currently mapped by FEMA for flood insurance
purposes or regulated for development in Oregon.
Wilson described an increase in flood hazard in the
community due to new development in the CMZ, a continued risk to existing
infrastructure and the need to protect critical salmon habitat as reasons the
county is proposing a statewide CMZ policy. The county seeks a policy that
provides a legal basis for counties to make local land use regulations to limit
flood hazards and protect habitat.
“Current land use policies are allowing people to build in
areas we know are dangerous,” said Clackamas County Commissioner Jim Bernard
during the meeting. “We don’t have a policy in place to address this.”
Bernard, who was joined by fellow Commissioner Ken
Humberston, noted that Oregon disclosure laws are some of the most limited in
the country in terms of making property buyers aware of potential hazards.
“We feel like we should let people know of the potential
(flooding),” he added.
Bernard discussed a letter written by the board of
commissioners to Oregon Solutions, an organization that helps local communities
develop policy on the state level, asking for the development of an Oregon CMZ
policy group. The group will be comprised of state and federal agencies with
Clackamas County as lead sponsor and will draft proposed legislation allowing
local jurisdictions to regulate development in areas known for flooding and
severe erosion.
“Advisory maps are out there. They just haven’t been
officially adopted on a regulatory level,” Bernard said.
Maps of the CMZ hazard zones on the upper Sandy River were
published in 2015 by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
(DOGAMI) using hydrologic surveys conducted with light detecting and ranging
(LiDAR) technology.
“These surveys give scientific basis for informing
policies,” Wilson said. He added they provided a guide for regulatory overlay
on a mapped level.
Wilson stated that with county oversight of a state
certified CMZ hazard area there would be restrictions to new and existing
development, direction for bank protection and habitat conservation.
“Standards will be higher and more stringent rather than
just the existing approach,” he added. “We’re trying to think about the next 50
years … to insure a balance between natural systems and property protection.”
The Rhododendron CPO meeting marked the beginning of the
county’s public engagement regarding the proposed statewide CMZ hazard policy.
Wilson will present more information about the issue at the upcoming Mount Hood
Area Chamber of Commerce meeting, at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, at the Mt. Hood RV
Village Resort, 65000 Hwy. 26 in Welches.
Additional information about the CMZ and flood hazard is
available online at www.clackamas.us/dm/flooding.html.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Crab Feed finds new home, same great taste posted on 02/01/2019
The Hoodland Women’s Club’s (HWC) annual Crab Feed will move
a little bit down the road, this year held at the Mt. Hood Lion’s Club, but the
delicious Dungeness will remain the same.
And even though the crab season got a late start this year,
organizer Brigette Romeo anticipates a good haul of the crustaceans for the
event (the 10th annual), adding that they have never run out of crab for the
participants.
“We’ve done okay there,” she said.
The event, which is capped at approximately 125 people,
offers a no-host bar, raffle baskets and dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. Saturday,
March 2. Tickets are $25 per person and can be bought at the Welches branch of
the Clackamas County Bank, Welches Mountain Building Supply and the Welches
Liquor Store.
Busy Bee Catering caters the event (including making clam
chowder, garlic bread, desserts and more), which serves as a way for the HWC to
thank the community.
“It’s not a money maker for us,” Romeo said, adding that the
guest list typically includes the County Commissioners. “(It’s a) way to get community
together.”
The Mt. Hood Lions Club is located at the intersection of
Hwy. 26 and Woodsey Way in Welches.
For more information, call 503-622-4618.
By Garth Guibord/MT
Crab Facts
From the South Coast Oregon Directory
Dungeness crab was reportedly named after a small fishing
village on the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Washington state.
They have been harvested commercially along the Pacific
Coast since the late 1880s.
Abundance of these highly prized crustaceans fluctuates.
Total coastwide production ranges from 35-55 million lbs.
annually.
|
|  James Todd
When Suzi Cloutier moved sight unseen from Rhode Island to a
rental farm in Dairy Creek, she was at a low point in her life. She was not
expecting to meet a soul in even worse condition, a blind and starving mule
named Zebediah abandoned on the property.
“I wasn’t too interested in being on this planet and he
wasn’t too interested in leaving and we kind of saved each other,” Cloutier
said about her fortunate introduction to Zeb the mule in 1997.
Zeb had fallen into neglect and was on the verge of
starvation when Cloutier arrived in Dairy Creek. Through a slow process of
rehabilitation, Cloutier nursed the blind mule back to health while discovering
that compassion and selfless acts of service helped her deal with her own
personal demons and heal herself.
Now more than 20 years and 54 rescued horses and mules
later, Zeb’s Wish exists as testimony to the lesson of compassion Cloutier
learned caring for the abandoned mule.
Zeb’s Wish became a 501c3 nonprofit equine sanctuary in 2013
and exists solely on private donations at its location in Sandy. The
organization’s mission is “to rescue and rehabilitate special needs equines,
conduct equine assisted learning and therapeutic activities and heal humans and
equines alike.”
On Cloutier’s farm, a passionate and dedicated staff nurses
her rescued herd back to health with integrated healthcare, a mixture of
traditional and homeopathic veterinary care involving natural hoof care, Reiki
energy work, chiropractic and massage therapy.
“I realized they’re my people,” Cloutier said about her herd
throughout the years.
Traditional equine sanctuaries focus on young rideable
animals that can be rehabilitated for adoption and human use. Zeb’s Wish
focuses on animals that cannot be used in a traditional sense, many of which
will require care until the end of their lives.
“It doesn’t make them any less valuable,” Cloutier said.
“It takes a lot of hands to make it happen,” she added about
the sanctuary’s work, noting the organization has seven active volunteers
providing care to the animals, six foster homes that rehabilitate neglected
animals and five board members overseeing the organization.
“We have an amazing community of people volunteering,”
Cloutier said. “We all come into this sanctuary as an act of service.”
Cindy Stevens fosters equines for Zeb’s Wish on her farm in
Beaver Creek. She has fostered two mares for the organization and is currently
fostering two ponies.
“No doubt they both would have died this winter if Zeb’s
hadn’t stepped in,” Stevens said about the ponies. She described them as
“walking skeletons” at the time of their rescue, but have since managed to put
on weight and are expected to resolve health issues such as rain rot by the
spring.
The practices Stevens uses to nurse horses back to help were
established by the University of California Davis refeeding program. She
described the program as the contemporary standard for feeding malnourished
equines.
“A lot of people don’t realize the resources available,”
Stevens said.
Zeb’s Wish is one of several organizations with resources
available to help people provide for the health and nourishment of their
animals.
“When you’re courageous enough to ask for help you can keep
your animals from starving,” Stevens said. “We’re here to help people to
succeed in keeping their animals because that’s the ultimate goal.”
Zeb’s Wish also exists to help humans find healing through
their interaction with the herd on the farm. Victoria Kress is a board member
and Reiki practitioner that teaches animal Reiki at the sanctuary.
Kress describes animal Reiki as a practice of meditation and
energy work that encourages a connection with the animals and fosters a sense
of comfort in both humans and animals.
Kress had been teaching this technique at the sanctuary for
the past five years with classes offered three or four times a year. A level
one class, offered for those with no prior experience with Reiki, will be held
March 30 and 31. Level two and three courses will be held later in the year
with the level three course serving as a Reiki teacher training class in the
fall.
“It’s been quite a journey … one I’ve been fortunate to be
part of,” Kress said.
Zeb’s Wish offers equine assisted learning programs, school
field trips, service learning classes, retreats and monthly volunteer
opportunities for community members interested in healing or being healed.
The sanctuary also hosts clinics including the upcoming
“Natural Horse and Mulemanship” with trainer Marta Johann March 17.
Volunteer opportunities or other visits can be arranged by
contacting the organization by email at zebswish@gmail.com.
More information about the sanctuary is available online at
zebswish.org and events are posted on the Zeb’s Wish Facebook page.
Zeb the mule died after years of loving care from Cloutier
at the age of 50.
His inspiration lives on, and Albert the mule was recently
rehabilitated and adopted thanks to the efforts of Zeb’s Wish.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| It is easy being green with the Master Recycling program posted on 02/01/2019
When Dawn Loomis took the Master Recycler class 10 years
ago, she realized that recycling is just one step in the effort to help keep
things green, but that reducing and reusing are also part of the equation.
“It was awesome,” Loomis said of the class. “I learned so
much more than I thought I ever would.”
The course will be offered in Oregon City, starting on
Wednesday, April 3. Registration for the course ends on Wednesday, March 6.
The eight-week class will meet once a week in the evening
and twice on Saturdays for field trips, offering a hands-on opportunity for
participants to learn about recycling and waste reduction. Those in the class
will also commit to volunteering for 30 hours of public outreach, such as
working at information booths, providing community presentations and working on
projects.
The program started in 1991 with a nonprofit in Seattle, and
then spread to Oregon State University. Today, it is offered by Metro, City of
Portland, Clackamas County, Washington County, the Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality and Recycling Advocates, and approximately 1,700 people
have taken the course, providing approximately 58,000 hours of service.
Lauren Norris, Master Recycler Program Manager, noted the
class has grown so popular that they have had to turn people away, with more
than 100 people applying for one of 30 spots for the Multnomah County class.
“I think that people are very interested in sustainability,”
Norris said.
Norris added that when the program began, people were really
concerned with there being not enough space in landfills. Now, the focus is
more on conserving natural resources and protecting the climate, examining the
full lifecycle of materials and not just looking at avoiding landfills.
The course will cover materials that are recyclable and also
how the markets for recyclable materials work. 25 different presenters, from
local governments to private professionals, will share their knowledge, while
field trips will include recycling facilities for a look into how the sorting
and baling processes work.
Stacy Luddington, Sustainability Analyst for Clackamas
County and also a Master Recycler, noted that understanding why one thing can
be recycled but others cannot becomes clearer through the course, such as how
plastic bags can tangle machines at the facilities.
“When people know the why, it tends to stick,” she said.
Luddington also noted that Master Recyclers aren’t limited
to recycling but also help spread the word about using less toxic cleaners,
wasting less food and doing Repair Fairs, where some things can be fixed and
reused rather than thrown away.
In the 10 years since Loomis took the course, she has done
activities including a waste audit at her son’s school, applied for several
grants, done collection events on the Mountain and more.
She encouraged anyone interested on the Mountain to
participate, noting more hands would be welcome in the recycle/reuse/reduce
efforts.
“We need some local, energetic people to get on board,”
Loomis said.
The course will be run for eight consecutive Wednesdays,
starting on April 3, at Clackamas County’s Development Services Building, 150
Beavercreek Road, in Oregon City. There is a $50 fee to cover course materials,
but scholarships are available. For more information, visit
www.masterrecycler.org/. Registration closes at noon Wednesday, March 6.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Consensus on ODFW Wolf Plan fails posted on 02/01/2019
Despite conservation groups having withdrawn from the
meetings, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is finalizing a revised
Wolf Conservation and Management Plan to be presented to the state wildlife
commission next month.
Five meetings were held from August 2018 to January 2019
attended by stakeholders representing ranching, hunting and wolf conservation
but no consensus was attained on several issues including the number of
livestock depredations that would lead to lethal removal of wolves.
Last month, four conservation groups withdrew from the
meetings.
“We were disappointed these groups left the discussion and
we did not have the full stakeholder group present at the final meeting,” said
Derek Broman, ODFW carnivore coordinator. “Since the drafting of the original
2005 plan, stakeholders remain very passionate so consensus is challenging to
achieve.”
The meetings were convened by Gov. Kate Brown, but the
conservation groups notified her and state wildlife commission they were
withdrawing, citing a flawed process for updating the state’s wolf plan and
lobbying by wildlife managers wanting to make it easier for the state to kill
wolves.
Oregon’s wolf population has reached 124 according to ODFW’s
report of April 2018. Most of these wolves occupy areas in the eastern part of
Oregon, but two packs are currently known to inhabit the western Cascades.
“Poll after poll has shown that Oregonians support wolf
recovery and believe that conflicts with livestock should be avoided through
nonlethal approaches,” said Sean Stevens, executive director of Oregon Wild,
one of the four conservation groups involved in the meetings. “And yet ODFW
continues to insist on a plan that makes it ever-easier to kill wolves without
any enforceable standards.”
Nick Cady, legal director of Cascadia Wildlands, cited the return
of wolves to the Pacific Northwest as an incredible wildlife success story that
all Oregonians should be celebrating.
“Instead of assisting this recovery, our state government is
fixated upon killing the species at the behest of the commercial livestock
industry,” Cady said. “There are between 100 and 200 wolves in the state total.
This is absurd.”
Prior to talks breaking down, the groups were able to find
consensus on wolf collaring priorities, the desire to increase the use of
nonlethal techniques and funding enhanced population modeling.
In practice, ODFW has denied more lethal removal requests
for wolves than it has approved.
But the impasse continues with conservation groups – Oregon
Wild, Cascadia Wildlands, Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of
Wildlife – continuing to believe ODFW discourages neutral oversight and
guidance to encourage meaningful discussion and collaborative brainstorming.
The wolf management plan will be presented to the governor
March 15.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Middle School gets technology upgrades posted on 02/01/2019
Winter break at Welches Middle School (WMS) meant time to
work, as the Oregon Trail School District (OTSD) installed technology upgrades,
including new interactive and short throw projectors, larger screens, teacher
iPads, wireless keyboards, docking stations and central speaker systems with
microphones.
“I think the ability to do a lot of different learning
activities has just expanded with the tools,” Principal Kendra Payne said,
adding that the school had to have some other upgrades, such as wiring, to
accommodate the new technology.
Payne noted that the technology will help improve the
classroom experience, as teachers will be able to move around more and help
engage all students, with better screens for displaying material and amplified
voices to bring everyone into a conversation.
“I feel like accessibility, in those ways, have been pretty
big,” she said.
The district also installed similar technology at Boring
Middle School (BMS), following the move of Cedar Ridge Middle School into the
Pioneer Building, which needed technology upgrades as part of that transition.
Scott Coleman, OTSD Director of Technology, noted the upgrades at BMS and WMS
totaled approximately $70,000, with the equipment paid for at the end of the
last school year and the install done in-house.
“It’s a better learning environment for the kids,” Coleman
said, noting that studies have been done that indicate a measurable difference
for kid’s attention levels at the back of classrooms that include improved
audio equipment. “It’s one fewer barrier for them.”
Coleman added that the upgrades put the schools at the
“front of the middle of the pack” when comparing to other middle schools, but
that the district looks for things that are “tried and tested” before choosing
to invest in them.
Payne noted that the school also received a $5,000 donation
from the Welches Parent Teacher Community Organization for new Chromebooks,
replacing ones that were bought six years ago. She added that these improvements
come on the heels of adopting new computer-based science curriculum at the
middle school last year.
“We’ve had quite a bit of good tech upgrades over the past
two years,” Payne said.
By Garth Guibord/MT
Parent Teacher Corner
(Information provided by Welches PTCO.)
The 2018-19 Welches Spirit Wear is here! Order forms will be
going home soon and due back to the school by Friday, Feb. 22. Make sure to
look for those order forms, you won’t want to miss out on this year’s designs,
both created by two of our very own Welches students.
The Annual ABC Auction is just around the corner. Don’t
forget to save the date on your calendar for Saturday, March 16. If you are
interested in helping with auction donations or volunteering to help the
Auction Committee, please email the WTPCO at welchesptco@gmail.com
|
|  File photo by Fran Berteau
The fates of the Sandy and Salmon rivers, along with the
life force of wild salmon, have merged into one.
The Sandy River Watershed Council (SRWC) hooked a $1 million
award in November, and that, combined with an already secured $1 million forms
a two-year project that will mitigate flood risk and improve fish habitat along
the area where the two wild rivers meet.
“The beauty of this project is that the steps to restoring
habitat for wild salmon are also the best path to reduce flood risk for nearby
homes, roads and other essential community infrastructure,” said Steve Wise,
executive director of SRWC.
Despite levees built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
where the Salmon River flows into the Sandy, intense floods and channel
migration ensued in the following years up to 2017.
Following the flood events, science determined that levees
are powerless to hold back rivers, and also have unintended consequences.
Levees cut off fish from key floodplain habitat and simply disperse the river’s
energy in major floods.
The work – which will launch in the spring of 2019,
spearheaded by the SRWC – will restore floodplains across 418 acres along
1-mile of floodplain at the confluence of the Sandy and Salmon rivers.
Parts of levees will be removed allowing the rivers to
access currently isolated channels, and log jams will be added to disperse
river energy with the added benefit of providing hidden refuge and feeding
areas for migrating salmon and steelhead.
The twin rivers are a salmon stronghold, a place where fish
populations have rebounded since the removal of the Marmot Dam in 2007.
“Climate change is bringing more frequent and intense storm
events in our region,” Wise said. “Extreme high-water events are part of the
new normal under climate change, but restoring the floodplain can reduce the
risk of negative impacts.”
In addition to the award from the National Coastal
Resilience Fund, SRWC has received funding from the Clackamas Soil and Water
Conservation District, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and the Portland
Water Bureau.
The SRWC will be reaching out to the community soon to raise
awareness about the project, communicate the benefits to the community, answer
questions, and hear the community concerns.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Chamber honors local hero and volunteer groups posted on 01/01/2019
Two weeks after a female jogger suffered a severe heart
attack while running a marathon on Mount Hood, she was able to attend her son’s
wedding thanks to the heroic efforts of Rhododendron citizen Lynn Miskowicz.
The Mount Hood Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a festive
breakfast on Dec. 4, 2018 to present an award honoring community member
Miskowicz for her role in saving the life of the woman during the REVEL Mount
Hood marathon and applaud local volunteer organizations for their work in the
community.
The seventh annual breakfast was held at the Mt. Hood Oregon
Resort where the Clackamas County Commissioners attended and served food to the
honored guests.
“We feel volunteers need to be encouraged and recognized,”
said chamber vice president Coni Scott after the event. “It’s important to
acknowledge the contributions these organizations make in the community.”
Hoodland Fire District Fire Chief John Ingrao presented a
plaque to Miskowicz acknowledging her heroic life-saving actions.
Miskowicz was volunteering at the REVEL marathon on July 28,
a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, when a woman suffered a heart attack while
running near the Barlow Trail hydration station. Miskowicz was on the scene
when the woman fell, called 911 and performed CPR for 22 minutes before a
Clackamas County Deputy arrived with a defibrillator and resuscitated the
woman.
“This was a special award. She saved a woman’s life,” Scott
said.
Miskowicz has worked in health care for 30 years and began
her career as a registered respiratory therapist at Providence Saint Vincent.
She first got her CPR card in high school and has kept it active for 30 years.
“It’s a great honor,” Miskowicz said about the recognition,
but credited her years of training for preparing her. “I hope this makes more
people go out and learn CPR and have the basic knowledge to use if they are in
a similar situation.”
Clackamas County Commissioner Jim Bernard introduced the 30
community volunteer organizations being recognized by the breakfast. The
organizations then thanked all the community member volunteers who made their
work possible.
“It’s a positive event and everyone enjoys coming,” Scott
said.
The annual breakfast was sponsored by Clackamas County Bank
and was also made possible by the support of the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort and 40
donations from 16 local organizations.
The volunteer organizations honored at the breakfast were
Antfarm, Boy Scouts of America, Clackamas Dogs Foundation, Clackamas Women’s
Services, Friends of Hoodland Library, Friends of Timberline, Hoodland C.E.R.T.
Community Emergency Response Team, Hoodland Community Christmas Basket, Hoodland
Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Hoodland Fire District Volunteer Support,
Hoodland Rural Fire Protection District #74, Hoodland Senior Center, Hoodland
Women’s Club, Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum, Mt. Hood Golf Club, Mt.
Hood Hospice, Mt. Hood Kiwanis Club, Mt. Hood Learning Center, Mt. Hood Lions
Club, Mt. Hood Oregon Resort, Neighborhood Missions, Oral Hull Foundation for
the Blind, Inc., Rhododendron Community Planning Organization (RCPO), Sandy
Community Action Center, Sandy Historical Society, Inc. & Museum, Spook
Alley, The Villages of Mt. Hood Community Partnership Program Grant (CPP),
Trillium Trails Garden Club, U.S. Forest Service and the Welches Schools.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Chamber honors local hero and volunteer groups posted on 01/01/2019
Two weeks after a female jogger suffered a severe heart
attack while running a marathon on Mount Hood, she was able to attend her son’s
wedding thanks to the heroic efforts of Rhododendron citizen Lynn Miskowicz.
The Mount Hood Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a festive
breakfast on Dec. 4, 2018 to present an award honoring community member
Miskowicz for her role in saving the life of the woman during the REVEL Mount
Hood marathon and applaud local volunteer organizations for their work in the
community.
The seventh annual breakfast was held at the Mt. Hood Oregon
Resort where the Clackamas County Commissioners attended and served food to the
honored guests.
“We feel volunteers need to be encouraged and recognized,”
said chamber vice president Coni Scott after the event. “It’s important to
acknowledge the contributions these organizations make in the community.”
Hoodland Fire District Fire Chief John Ingrao presented a
plaque to Miskowicz acknowledging her heroic life-saving actions.
Miskowicz was volunteering at the REVEL marathon on July 28,
a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, when a woman suffered a heart attack while
running near the Barlow Trail hydration station. Miskowicz was on the scene
when the woman fell, called 911 and performed CPR for 22 minutes before a
Clackamas County Deputy arrived with a defibrillator and resuscitated the
woman.
“This was a special award. She saved a woman’s life,” Scott
said.
Miskowicz has worked in health care for 30 years and began
her career as a registered respiratory therapist at Providence Saint Vincent.
She first got her CPR card in high school and has kept it active for 30 years.
“It’s a great honor,” Miskowicz said about the recognition,
but credited her years of training for preparing her. “I hope this makes more
people go out and learn CPR and have the basic knowledge to use if they are in
a similar situation.”
Clackamas County Commissioner Jim Bernard introduced the 30
community volunteer organizations being recognized by the breakfast. The
organizations then thanked all the community member volunteers who made their
work possible.
“It’s a positive event and everyone enjoys coming,” Scott
said.
The annual breakfast was sponsored by Clackamas County Bank
and was also made possible by the support of the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort and 40
donations from 16 local organizations.
The volunteer organizations honored at the breakfast were
Antfarm, Boy Scouts of America, Clackamas Dogs Foundation, Clackamas Women’s
Services, Friends of Hoodland Library, Friends of Timberline, Hoodland C.E.R.T.
Community Emergency Response Team, Hoodland Community Christmas Basket, Hoodland
Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Hoodland Fire District Volunteer Support,
Hoodland Rural Fire Protection District #74, Hoodland Senior Center, Hoodland
Women’s Club, Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum, Mt. Hood Golf Club, Mt.
Hood Hospice, Mt. Hood Kiwanis Club, Mt. Hood Learning Center, Mt. Hood Lions
Club, Mt. Hood Oregon Resort, Neighborhood Missions, Oral Hull Foundation for
the Blind, Inc., Rhododendron Community Planning Organization (RCPO), Sandy
Community Action Center, Sandy Historical Society, Inc. & Museum, Spook
Alley, The Villages of Mt. Hood Community Partnership Program Grant (CPP),
Trillium Trails Garden Club, U.S. Forest Service and the Welches Schools.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Jordan Wheeler starts as Sandy’s new City Manager posted on 01/01/2019
Jordan Wheeler heard a lot about the City of Sandy since
2013, when former Sandy City Manager Scott Lazenby took the same job for the
City of Lake Oswego, where Wheeler has worked as the Deputy City Manager for
the past 10 years.
This month, Wheeler took over Lazenby’s old job in Sandy,
ascending to the City Manager position following the retirement of Kim
Yamashita.
“I feel like I’ve heard so many stories and so many good
things about Sandy,” Wheeler said, noting Lazenby encouraged him to apply for
the position.
Wheeler was one of three candidates interviewed by the Sandy
City Council during the search for Yamashita’s successor. Yamashita noted that
Wheeler’s experience and personality made him stand out above the others.
“The way he presented himself to the council was open (and)
above board,” she said, adding that he has experience working with the various
“players” in Clackamas County. “(He) seemed like a good fit.”
Wheeler noted that the City of Sandy’s reputation as being
innovative and having a “pioneer spirit,” including with SandyNet (the city’s
internet service provider) and transit, attracted him to the job. He added the
combination of the city’s size, setting, location in relationship to the Metro
area and access to nature and amenities were also draws.
“I can see why people want to move there and live there,”
said Wheeler, who earned a graduate degree in Public Administration from
Portland State University and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from
University of Washington.
Wheeler noted the challenges he faces in his new job include
the funding for the city’s community campus and wastewater issues, while also
tackling traffic problems. But he said he looks forward to working on master
plans and with the community to help shape the city’s future.
He added that he sees opportunities to grow tourism, develop
the downtown to serve both the tourists and city’s residents, and also managing
Sandy’s growth without putting too much of a burden on infrastructure.
Lazenby sees Wheeler as an excellent fit for the job, noting
that Wheeler has been “in the middle” of some of the tough issues with Lake
Oswego. Lazenby went through a similar transition when he arrived in Sandy in
1992 from a larger city in Arizona and thinks that it will be a smooth
changeover for Wheeler.
“The budget’s smaller, but the same issues we face in cities
are pretty much the same everywhere,” Lazenby said.
Yamashita, whose final day on the job was Dec. 31, helmed
the city since January 2017 after serving as its police chief for the seven
years prior, and noted the city’s advancements in technology and improving the
collaboration amongst department heads as highlights of her tenure.
“I think we forged a really good team and all our oars are
in the water moving in the right direction together,” she said.
Before fully retiring, Yamashita will serve as the Interim
Police Chief of the City of Gladstone until approximately next June, with an
eye on moving to Idaho after.
For more information about the City of Sandy, visit www.ci.sandy.or.us.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Holistic health at Essence of Grace posted on 01/01/2019
Sharon Salzmann had been working in the healing arts for
over a decade when, through a personal attempt to resolve chronic health
issues, she discovered the neuromodulation technique (NMT), a form of
“informational medicine” that works to identify and correct the informational
source of illness that causes an internal interruption of the body’s healing
systems.
“It (NMT) was so much quicker and delivered the results I
needed,” Salzmann said, “I just have never turned back.”
Essence of Grace is her new alternative health practice
located at 24403 E. Welches Road, Suite 105, Welches. There, Salzmann focuses
on addressing health issues such as allergies, auto-immune conditions and
chronic pain, as well as negative behavioral or life patterns through NMT.
Salzmann is a native Oregonian who attended Sandy High
School and has lived in the Mount Hood area for the past three years. She
discovered NMT while living in Hermiston where she was working as a
practitioner of quantum biofeedback therapy, a device-based energy balancing
treatment for imbalances of the body, mind and spirit.
In 2015 she completed all three levels of training available
in NMT, which was developed in 2002 by Dr. Leslie Feinberg in Hermiston. The
Feinberg method utilizes muscle response testing, a structured physical
evaluation to determine the source of an ailment across an array of physical,
mental and spiritual issues.
NMT works to identify negative health impacts such as
trauma, toxins, infection and stressors including emotional, physical, chemical,
malnutrition and other challenges. NMT practitioners include nutritional
support, diet and exercise as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that
focuses on achieving a mind-body balance and promote healing.
Salzmann began her practice after completing the training
and opened her office April 1, 2018. She hopes to be a resource for people in
the Mount Hood area and a complement to the array of alternative healing
methods already available in the community.
“I think NMT can benefit anyone. Just a few sessions can
help you move in a positive direction in health, career, a relationship or life
in general,” Salzmann said, describing the technique as very efficient and
providing quick results.
Salzmann is also a certified spiritual healing coach. She stated
she does not take a denominational approach and focuses on how health is
impacted by the balance of the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of a
client.
Sessions are available by appointment. A typical session is
one hour and is $80 per session. Salzmann stated she does work on a sliding
scale and will provide services at a lower rate to customers with health
concerns and limited resources.
“I have a passion for helping people be in life, in
happiness,” she said.
Salzmann also offers Skype sessions for those unable to
travel to her office and plans to begin offering a group-based personal growth
session in January 2019.
Appointments can be made by phone or email.
Essence of Grace and Sharon Salzmann can be contacted by
phone at 503-319-3171 or by email at sharonsalzmann@yahoo.com.
More information about Salzmann is available at
essenceofgrace.net and additional information about NMT can be found at www.nmt.md.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
|  HFD's Engine 353
For Hoodland Fire District (HFD) Lieutenant Andy Figini, the
concept of defendable space – the area around a home or structure that is
cleared from debris and other paths for fire to travel – was driven home during
the 12 days he spent at California’s Camp Fire in November.
One well-prepared structure in particular, a ranch and
outbuildings that had a gravel driveway and no litter or debris around it,
illustrated what a difference it can make.
“That was the difference between a house that became a
foundation and a house that was still standing,” said Figini, a four-year
veteran of the HFD. “That was one of the houses that stayed standing.”
Figini and two other HFD firefighters, Senior
Firefighter/Paramedic Tyler Myers and Volunteer Dawson Kooch, helped in the
efforts battling the Camp Fire, a 153,336-acre fire that destroyed nearly
14,000 residences and nearly 5,000 other buildings, while killing 86 people.
Figini and Myers, both of whom have been part of previous conflagrations in
Oregon, noted the Camp Fire was unlike what they have experienced here, where
dry grass makes fires move fast.
“These were trees and big wooded areas that just were gone,”
Figini said. “That is not something we get in Oregon very often. I don’t think
it can be compared to anything I’ve ever gone to before.”
In addition, the Camp Fire burned through populated areas,
with Myers describing some of the towns impacted as equivalent to Gresham.
“It was tough seeing all the people affected,” he said, adding
that it was “pretty incredible” to see the human response to the destruction,
including donations and how people connected.
The HFD crew, including a rig, worked on a fire line to make
sure the fire didn’t jump containment. A shift would last 24 hours straight,
with the following 24 hours off, a difference from large events in Oregon where
firefighters work 12 hours on and then 12 hours off. Myers, who has been with
the HFD for five years, also noted he learned about how a large response to a
mass incident works in California.
Figini noted that he’ll take some lessons from the
experience, including increased awareness of fire fuels, an expanded
situational awareness of where he goes to fight fires and about always thinking
about what they would do if the fire did continue to spread.
“We all had some good experience getting out there, putting
the stuff we’ve been training on and using it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Figini did note two positives that came out of
such a devastating fire. The first has to do with the final map of the area
impacted by the fire. At the bottom, he noted, lies a notch of unburnt terrain,
where the HFD crew and other Oregon teams did a back burn and stopped the fire.
“I like to think that maybe we had a good hand in stopping
that part of the fire,” he said.
The second positive happened on the outskirts of Paradise, a
town of 26,000 that was mostly destroyed by the fire. While performing building
searches, Figini noted he heard a scream and he then discovered a goat
entangled in some orange construction netting. The firefighters were able to
free the animal, which then followed them around for the next 90 minutes.
“It was a pretty nice goat,” Figini said. “That was a good
positive highlight of our day.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Rhody Water an ‘Outstanding Performer’ posted on 01/01/2019
(The cowboy rises
from the card table, saunters over to the bar, knocks some dust from his chaps,
sets a well-worn boot on the foot rail, leans in to the bartender, fixes him
with his steely gray eyes, and says: “Yep, Steve. Believe I’ll have another
a’them waters o’yers.”)
Around the Rhododendron Water Association (RWA), that
scenario might not be that far-fetched.
The RWA, not unaccustomed to attracting accolades, added one
more to its trophy case in November. The Oregon Health Authority bestowed the
coveted “Outstanding Performer” citation for a water system that has
demonstrated exceptional water treatment techniques, record keeping, stayed on
schedule with all testing criteria, and was found to not have any reporting
violations in the last three years.
Fewer than 10 percent of the 3,395 water systems in Oregon
have received this outstanding designation.
“This award means a great deal to the association and the
Board of Directors who make the hard decisions for the association,” said
Steven Graeper, association president. “But most of all, the credit goes to the
association water master, David Jacob. Without David’s skill and expertise in
running water systems, RWA never would have achieved this milestone.”
Capturing the award brings with it the reduction of system
surveys from every three years to once every five years, spreading the $2,700
cost of the survey over a longer time period.
Other water systems on the Mountain that have received the
“Outstanding Performer” award include Salmon Valley Water, Alder Creek Barlow
Water and Government Camp Water.
It’s our understanding that Steve’s Water Bar is open 24/7.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| New owners of Giddy Up Taxi ready to get up to speed posted on 01/01/2019
Last August, Danielle Wauer started to help out running
Giddy Up Taxi, but things got off to a difficult start.
“Boy, I did not know what I was getting into,” Wauer said.
“After a while, I got a system down and I just keep improving it.”
Now, that system is all hers and her husband’s, as they
purchased the taxi company and fully took over operations on Nov. 6. And the
pair has some plans in place to keep improving things, with an eye to keep up
with Uber and Lyft, two ride-sharing companies.
“We’re really turning it into more of a business,” Wauer
said, noting that they will add credit card capabilities, printed receipts for
work and medical trips, water bottles, cell phone chargers, improved interior
lighting, the option of texting in for a ride and even new vehicles in the
future for the fleet.
The company, with a total of six drivers, offers several
transportation options, including local fares, rides to the airport, wedding
shuttles, wine and concert tours and more.
“We get super super busy with (wedding shuttles),” Wauer
said. “Pretty much our whole summer is booked.”
She added that they also make the local mountain community a
priority, including adding a punch card for local rides that offers $10 off a
ride after six rides. And Wauer also noted they plan to build relationships
with mountain businesses and possibly create a brochure highlighting the area’s
offerings to offer customers.
“We’re really aiming to take care of the local people first
and foremost,” said Wauer, who moved to the mountain with her husband a little
more than a year ago. “The business has been such a blessing to us; it really
came at a time of great need. It really just came and rescued us.”
Giddy Up Taxi can be reached at 503-622-0398 or online at
giddyuptaxi.com. The business can also be found on Facebook and Yelp.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Ribbon cutting.
Rian Windsheimer, Region 1 Manager for the Oregon Department
of Transportation (ODOT), had a succinct description for the old Mirror Lake
Trailhead, located on a curve on Hwy. 26 just west of Government Camp.
“Mirror Lake is a treasure, parking over there was not,” he
said at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 9 at the new location of the
Mirror Lake Trailhead, at the west end of the Skibowl parking lot.
The new trailhead, with a budget of approximately $5.65
million, features a plaza with an informational kiosk, benches, picnic tables,
bike racks, 51 parking spaces and restrooms, with a 1.16-mile trail connecting
it to the old Mirror Lake trail.
The new trail offers landings for wheelchairs and 10
bridges, nine of which were flown in by helicopter during a 105-minute stretch
of the project.
Mark Engler, West Zone Recreation Program Manager for the
U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Mt. Hood National Forest, was also not a fan,
dubbing the old location as, “malfunction junction.”
The trailhead, drawing scores of visitors to hike to the
picturesque Mirror Lake with a view of Mount Hood, often saw hikers dangerously
parking their cars on both sides of the highway, leading to “parking chaos,”
and was addressed in the joint project by the USFS, ODOT and Western Federal
Lands (WFL).
“Now it feels good to be here, doesn’t it,” Engler said to
the crowd at the ceremony.
Engler noted the USFS faces the challenge of original
infrastructure that has reached its lifespan and is now deteriorating. But the
agency is also committed to restoring and sustaining the premiere recreational
experiences for visitors, while working with a range of stakeholders, including
the community and other organizations.
“One example is Mirror Lake trailhead,” he said. “We know
how highly valued outdoor recreation is on Mount Hood.”
The project was made possible by a grant from the Federal
Lands Access Program, established to improve transportation facilities that
provide access to, are adjacent to or are located within Federal lands, and it
included improvements to the intersection of Hwy. 26 and Glacier View Road.
The new trailhead and trail feature aspects taken directly
from the immediate surroundings, including plant seeds and cuttings grown for
two years and resulting in 3,374 native plants re-planted or installed. In
addition, 387 trees that were removed were used in fish habitat restoration
projects, while more than half the rock in the wall at the plaza came from the
site.
“The idea is really to reuse the stuff we already had,” said
Knud Martin, Construction Manager for WFL.
Martin added that in more than 17,400 hours of work during
the life of the project, there were no injuries, in spite of 9,900 cars
travelling on Hwy. 26 every day.
Those in attendance at the Nov. 9 ceremony had a positive
impression, including Mike Mathews, a volunteer wilderness steward with the
USFS who hadn’t been on the trail in four years due to how crowded it could
become. He set out to return to Mirror Lake after the ceremony and to check out
the drainage work on the new trail.
“It looks really nice and they’ve done a really nice job,”
Mathews said.
Engler noted that users should treat the area with respect,
packing out all that they pack in, be prepared for changing conditions and
bringing back fond memories. And maybe enjoying the fact that they no longer
have to park at “malfunction junction.”
“I feel really good driving by that old trailhead,” Engler
said, noting the old trailhead had been replanted and asphalt had been removed.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  The winning design.
Haley Montana, the winner of the Hoodland Senior Center
(HSC) logo redesign contest, was so inspired by the center’s civic outreach
that she created and submitted seven separate designs to the competition, which
ended Oct. 31.
“I cannot believe how she captured the senior center in
every single one,” said HSC director Ella Vogel about Montana’s abundance of
contributions.
Montana is a Brightwood resident who has lived in the Mount
Hood area for five years since her retirement from Kaiser Permanente. She
studied art in high school and stated she always has fun creating art and
entering competitions on the side.
Montana recently entered Rhododendron’s “Rhody Rising” logo
contest and placed sixth among the finalists. She was asked to enter the HSC
logo contest and toured the center to gain a better perspective on their role
in the community.
“I wanted to see their facilities and see what they were
doing,” Montana said. “What a great effort they put out for such a small
staff.”
During her tour she noticed the HSC’s focus on
transportation services in the community.
Her winning design features the HSC’s bus in front of Mount
Hood with a wheelchair and examples of the center’s services including a spoon
and fork symbolizing the meal delivery program.
“A lot of people couldn’t live out here without the center,”
Montana said.
In addition to the design ideas, Montana donated several
works of her own art, a selection of animals painted on carefully selected
river rocks, to the center to sell at the Mount Hood Oregon Resort Holiday
Artisan Fair held Nov. 24-25.
“This lady puts so much detail into everything she does,”
Vogel said about Montana’s contributions.
The new logo will be used for the senior center’s
newsletter. Vogel added it will also be incorporated into a future website and
a Facebook page although the center does not currently maintain an internet
presence. The HSC is currently displaying all seven of Montana’s logo designs
and plans on making them a permanent display.
“I can’t think of any other decoration I’d rather have; it’s
just so perfect,” Vogel said.
The prize for the contest was a Mount Hood coverlet crafted
by the HSC. Montana is currently working on a large-scale poster for the
Friends of the Hoodland Library highlighting their organization.
The HSC can be reached by phone at 503-622-3331 or by email
at hoodlandseniors@frontier.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Community rallies to make Christmas joyous for all posted on 12/01/2018
Each year since 1987, the Mountain community has come
together in the spirit of the holidays for the Hoodland Community Christmas
Basket Program to make sure that nobody goes without food or gifts for
Christmas. Carol Norgard, who has been a part of the efforts for years, noted
that in the past couple years, the numbers of hats and gloves has increased
through the efforts of the Hoodland Library and others. Those donations make a
big difference for some in the community that often don’t get a focus for the
toy drive: teens.
“I think every child that was on our list got a hat,”
Norgard said.
Efforts by businesses and organizations across the Mountain
are now in full swing to make this Christmas a happy one for everyone,
including the traditional Lions Club Christmas Toy Drive and Dinner, starting
at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, giving trees and locations where donations can be
dropped off. Norgard noted that last year, a bicycle (valued at more than $100)
was donated, but she added that toy donations should be kept under $25 to help
spread the wealth.
Norgard also noted that gift cards are not recommended.
Applications for food baskets and submission of giving tree
ideas are available at the Hoodland Fire District Main Station, 69634 Hwy. 26
in Welches, and can be dropped off at the Clackamas County Bank, the Welches
School, the Welches Library, Welches Mountain Building Supply and the Adventist
Medical Clinic.
Norgard added that organizers take four days at the Lions
Club to sort the food, create the boxes and then have people pick them up.
Baskets will be distributed to the community by Saturday, Dec. 22.
Christmas Dinner details
The Lions Club Christmas Toy Drive and Dinner will feature
roast beef and ham, veggies, salad and more, doors opening at 6 p.m. Saturday,
Dec. 1, at the corner of Woodsey Way and Hwy. 26 in Welches. Please bring a
new, unwrapped toy, and if possible, a donation of nonperishable food. Advance
purchase tickets are $12 and available from any Lions Club member, at Welches
Mountain Building Supply, the Barlow Trail Roadhouse, Thriftway, Coffee
Brewsters, Mt. Hood Roasters and Govy General.
Christmas baskets
Donation drop off locations are at: Hoodland Branch of
Clackamas County Bank, Welches Mountain Building Supply, Coffee Brewsters,
Brightwood Tavern, McKenzie Dental, the Hoodland Adventist Medical Clinic, Govy
General and Mt. Hood Foods.
The Hoodland Senior Center can help with applications, while
the Welches School also sends out information packets and accepts applications.
The Hoodland Library accepts hats, gloves and scarves, while
the Hoodland Thriftway offers $10 food bags to benefit the basket program.
Giving Tree
Those who turn in applications by Dec. 5 can request a
specific gift for their child (up to $25). The requests are given a code and
“tags” are sent out to various locations, including the Welches School, Welches
Mountain Building Supply and the Hoodland Branch of the Clackamas County Bank.
For more information, call 503-622-4111 or 503-936-1896.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Photo by Peggy Wallace
Jessica Thomason, who recently acquired the New Moon Salon
(formerly Salon Christa), laughed when asked about the new name.
“What more could you want for your hair than new and
positive changes,” she said.
Thomason noted the salon, located at 67211 East Hwy. 26 in
Welches, marks a new endeavor as her first ownership role after working as a
stylist for 21 years. The “new moon” represents all forms of new and positive
change, and serves as the inspiration for the new moniker.
“I’m so excited. It’s been a whirlwind,” Thomason said about
purchasing the salon.
Thomason has lived in the Timberline Rim community for five
years, where she is a member of the Homeowner’s Association Board. Thomason has
clients in the community and plans to continue providing service for existing
clients of Salon Christa.
“Having Christa’s blessing is wonderful,” said Thomason
about the transition of her assuming ownership in November. “We have mutual
respect for each other. She didn’t want to leave her business to just anybody.”
Thomason hopes to bring new techniques to the Mountain she
learned during her years styling hair at Hickox Studio and Appel Nouveau Salon
in Portland. She plans to increase the salon’s availability with four
additional employees, while adding a second chair in the new year.
The salon will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Walk-ins
are encouraged, and Thomason urges people to schedule an appointment or drop by
if they need to get “dolled up” in December for the holidays.
The New Moon Salon can be contacted at 503-740-6891.
By Benjamin Simpson
|
|  Regina and Dave Lythgoe
“A big change for me,” said Merit Properties owner Dave
Lythgoe. “I realized yesterday it was not my responsibility to change the
flowers in the flower boxes.”
Merit Properties has been a fixture on the Mountain since
1984, with Dave and Regina Lythgoe at the helm. But as of the first of
November, Keller Williams, a world-wide realty company with a Portland office,
has purchased Merit Properties.
“The new office will be known as the Merit Properties
Group,” said Leann Harris, CEO of Keller Williams Realty Portland Central. “All
the existing agents will remain to provide the real estate services and local
expertise to which their clients are accustomed … Merit Properties Group still
‘Knows the Mountain,’” she said, referring to the Merit signature slogan.
Keller Williams boasts more than 190,000 agents nationwide and more than 330
agents in Oregon.
“The last 35 years have been a great experience for me,”
Lythgoe said. “We’ve logged over 10,000 real estate transactions and made many
new lifelong friends.”
Lythgoe added that the resources available to the agents
will help them reach a network of hundreds of thousands of Keller Williams
agents. Merit’s listed properties will have a larger audience and buyers will
still have the same local agents to take care of their real estate needs. “Now
the agents will be supercharged with more up-to-date training and more
capabilities to find buyers and sellers,” he said.
The history of Merit Properties has spurred many companies
to come courting over the years as it does an amazing business for an
unaffiliated office. Despite that, Lythgoe said his motivation to sell was
never that high in past years.
“My asking price was too high to be serious,” he said.
Three years ago, Lythgoe was approached by Keller Williams
but again he was not overly motivated. This year Harris made contact again
saying they had renewed interest in purchasing. The deal was struck.
Keller Williams has modern technology available to agents
and clients such as the KW Real Estate app., Lythgoe added. Their commission
and profit-sharing programs are superior to most other companies.
“My staff and I have shared the experiences of weddings,
births, deaths and many laughs along the journey,” Lythgoe said. “I thank them
immensely for their support and loyalty. Now, it’s on to a new chapter in the life
of Merit Properties.”
And someone new will be charged with tending the flower
boxes.
New broker joins Merit
Kayla Keyser has been added to the staff of Merit Properties
Group.
“Kayla will be working for buyers and sellers on the
Mountain and surrounding communities, as well as the Sandy, Gresham and
Portland Metro area,” Harris said. “Kayla lives on the Mountain and is
well-versed in these areas. She comes to Merit with a long background in
customer service and sales.”
With the addition of Keyser, Merit Properties Group now has
nine brokers offering real estate services to the area from the office in
Hoodland Park Plaza.
Keyser can be reached at 920-857-6597 or
Kayla@mthoodhomesandcabins.com
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Get your car and home ready for winter posted on 12/01/2018
Lieutenant Phil Burks of the Hoodland Fire District (HFD)
noted that one winter, temperatures hovered around 20 below zero for a couple
weeks, putting people and their vehicles to the test.
“That was brutal,” Burks said. “We don’t get that cold most
often. It’s hard on everything.”
With this winter’s chill now on the horizon, Burks and
Senior Firefighter Evan Jarvis offered some good tips to be prepared for the
cold, snow and ice.
The first tip: check your tires and try putting chains on
them now, well ahead of when you may need to use them. Burks noted that winter
rated tires will have a snowflake embossed on the side, offering more grip in
the snow.
He recommended putting chains on in a parking lot with good
lighting as a practice run, while adding that cars with front wheel drive
should have the chains on the front tires. And make sure that the number
matches the tire, as not all chains fit all tires.
“When you’re running winter tires, because of the higher
tread, sometimes the chains won’t fit,” Burks said.
He added that windshield wiper fluid can freeze in the
winter, unless it is rated for the cold weather, and to make the switch before
it becomes a problem.
“It’s easy to forget,” he said, noting that windshield
wipers might need replacing after the hot summer and radiator fluid should also
be checked.
Mountain drivers and visitors should also be prepared by
carrying flares (traditional flares can go bad, electronic ones are also
available), blankets, hats, gloves, water, food, traction aids (such as kitty
litter) and any medication that might be needed if people get stranded. And a
small tarp comes in handy to use while putting on those chains.
Jarvis added that drivers should drive slower in slippery
conditions and leave more room between themselves and other cars. And even if
the road is clear, patches of black ice can form in shadowed areas and other
places, causing dangerous situations for cars going too fast.
“Go slow,” Jarvis said. “That's the one thing we find, is
that people are going way too fast.”
Burks also noted that drivers are required to slow down or
move over if a vehicle is on the side of the road.
“That’ll help keep everybody safer,” he said, adding that
drivers who fail to perform this duty could be subject to a ticket.
Jarvis added that drivers who are heading for a longer trip
should be sure to start with a full tank of gas, while owners of small cars
should check to see if their vehicle has tow points. If not, keys that can
screw into a bumper can be purchased to help pull a vehicle out of the snow if
needed.
Anybody going outside should keep an eye on the weather and
dress in layers, while travelers should also keep in mind that if conditions
warrant, they can always turn around and go back instead of continuing on in a
dangerous situation.
Meanwhile, Jarvis added that people can prepare for winter
at home by having a 72-hour kit, including enough food, water, pet food and
medication in case no assistance is available for a few days during a storm.
Keeping extra wood handy for a wood stove is also recommended, as people may
need to cook food without electricity.
For more information on driving conditions, visit the Oregon
Department of Transportation’s website, tripcheck.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Fireworks.
Mt. Hood Skibowl offers several special holiday events to
make this a special time on the Mountain.
Santa Claus and Frosty kick off the festivities when they
visit the Skibowl Tube Hill from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 15 and 22.
The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Government Camp follows
up on Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to join the village community
for holiday cheer, singing, hot beverages and treats provided by the
Huckleberry Inn. Later that night, the Holiday Fireworks at Skibowl East – by
the Multorpor Lodge – will light up the sky starting about 8:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve, the resort will be open for riding and skiing
until 4 p.m. and will operate for day and night skiing and riding on Christmas
Day.
The 31st New Year’s Eve celebration kicks off at 10:30 p.m.
with a DJ and Beer Garden in the base area of the Skibowl west side. The
traditional torchlight parade down the Lower Bowl precedes the biggest
fireworks display on the Mountain at midnight while riding and skiing continues
until 2 a.m.
Additionally, Mt. Hood Outfitters, the leading rental and
guide service in the Mt. Hood National Forest can set up for cross-country
skiing, snowshoe treks, and guided snowmobiling adventures. The guide service
is also taking reservations for the holiday horse-drawn sleigh and carriage
rides around Government Camp. www.mthoodoutfitters.com.
By Monica Cory/MT
|
|  Snow tubers.
While winter enthusiasts await winter’s arrival and the news
of opening day at local resorts, snow tubers can get the jump on the season at
the Skibowl Snow Tube Park which is set to open Nov. 23.
Skibowl has invested in an all-weather snowmaking system
that allows for making snow at significantly warmer temperatures than
traditional equipment.
“This is a state-of-the-art system that will allow us to
meet key dates and holiday periods when Mother Nature isn’t always cooperating
in the early part of the season,” said Mike Quinn, Vice President and General
Manager at Skibowl. “We are so excited to get this winter season started and
intend to start making snow as soon as the temps begin to cool off.”
Skibowl’s Snow Tube and Adventure Park features Mount Hood’s
only conveyor assisted tubing hills. The park’s other activities for kids
includes: an indoor play zone; kiddie snowmobiles; tube carousel; and Frosty’s
Playland where even the smallest snow lovers can play safely in the snow.
On weekends, Friday through Sunday and holiday nights, snow
tubers can enjoy the energy of LED, laser and black lights along with popular
party music during cosmic tubing sessions.
The Snow Tube and Adventure Park will also be open daily
during the winter break in December. For operating hours and tickets visit
Skibowl.com or call 503-222-BOWL.
By Monica Cory/MT
|
| New Artisans Market arrives on Mountain in time for holidays posted on 11/01/2018
Inspired by his brother’s artwork, Warren Bates made a few
prints and was able to display them at the store at the Mt. Hood Village RV Resort.
And based on the reaction to them, Bates took things a step further this summer
by helping to organize six shows at the resort, featuring various types of arts
and crafts.
Bates noted that despite no advertising for the shows, they
were successful and everyone was able to sell a few things. Next month, the
show will take another leap forward with the Mt. Hood Village Holiday Artisan
Market, a larger gathering of creative artists and vendors, from 11 a.m. to 6
p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1 and 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at the RV Resort, 65000 Hwy.
26 in Welches.
“It almost feels like a Saturday market,” Bates said of the
summer’s offerings. “There’s a lot of artists up here on the mountain.”
The holiday market will include arts and crafts such as
jewelry, pottery, fine art, essential oils, soap and more, offering a chance
for area residents to get an early start to their holiday shopping, while also
showcasing the creativity of the artists on the mountain.
Bates also has plans to bring back the summer market next
year, expanding to eight dates while keeping costs down for vendors and
bringing more local artists on board.
If you are an artist or vendor that wants to participate in
the Mt. Hood Village Holiday Artisan Market please contact Warren Bates at
503-867-0677 or email bateswarren1@gmail.com, or email
mounthoodvillage@equitylifestyle.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| County reveals plans for timber sale in Brightwood posted on 11/01/2018
The Clackamas County Forest and Timber Management Program
detailed a plan to harvest timber on a 117-acre tract of county land during a
public meeting on Oct. 18 at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort.
The proposed site, named Boomer II after the native mountain
beaver, is located one mile north of Hwy. 26 in Brightwood. A public tour of
the county land was held on Oct. 20 to allow interested parties to observe the
potential harvest area.
The Oct. 18 meeting was led by Clackamas County Forester
Andrew Dobmeier. He was joined by members of the Clackamas County Forest
Advisory Board and the Parks Advisory Board in answering questions and
addressing concerns from the public regarding the proposed logging operation.
“Our focus is on protection of our soil, protection of our
waters and maintaining a good planting site,” said Dobmeier during a
conversation about the county’s approach to the harvest.
The meeting was attended by 15 community members, many of
them Brightwood residents wary of further logging in the area after a
contentious logging operation on private property in 2017 above the Timberline
Rim neighborhood.
Local resident Bill Simonds, owner of Welches Mountain
Building Supply and the closest neighbor to the proposed county site, detailed
community complaints about the prior private logging operation but expressed
optimism regarding the county’s plan for Boomer II site adjacent his property.
“I feel 100 percent better about this operation,” said
Simonds while touring the site. “These guys care about the property and want to
do it right.”
Other community members toured the county land to gain
insight into the proposed logging’s impact on the watershed, including a
section of Spring Creek in the southeastern portion of the tract.
“Our concern is sediment; What kind of erosion is being
created,” said Gerald Murphy, member of the Sandy River Watershed Council and
the Clackamas County Planning Commission. Murphy sought to conduct turbidity
testing at the creek to monitor for an increase in sediment load during the
operation. The county plan includes a 20-foot buffer established along the
creek to prevent impact.
“This is Oregon. This is what we do,” said Murphy about the
timber sale. “We just want it done right.”
Other issues raised during the tour included the visual
impact of the site on the community.
“It’s kind of a concern when you pull into Brightwod, is it going
to be right there?” asked Murphy.
The county foresters conducted line of sight measurements
and described Boomer II as only visible along Hwy. 26 for a couple of seconds
in the distant background.
The Boomer II site has been previously harvested and is
currently forested with Douglas fir, hemlock, cedar, alder, maple and
cottonwood, varying in age from 40 to 80 years due to fire and harvesting.
Net proceeds from the harvest of approximately 2,051
thousand board feet (MBF) of timber on 75 acres of the site will fund Clackamas
County park and forest operations. The sale includes 1,500 MBF Douglas-fir, 200
MBF hemlock, 30 MBF cedar and 300 MBF hardwoods.
Dobmeier detailed the county’s plan to actively manage each
portion of the harvest and sale to get the best return for the community and
avoid recent issues with logging in Brightwood.
He stated the county intends to hire an Oregon logging
company that is a member of the Associated Oregon Loggers and follows
sustainable harvesting practice guidelines, as well as oversee the operation to
assure minimal impact on the site and BLM roads.
“If you don’t do what we want, you’re out,” Dobmeier said
about the county’s expectations for the logging companies bidding on the
contract.
The county will begin bidding logging companies in November
with the harvest scheduled to begin in January 2019 and end by June 30, 2019.
The logging company is expected to follow Sustained Forest
Initiative practices and adhere to all Oregon Forest Practice Act rules. Other
criteria for obtaining the contract include price, references, equipment and a
timeline that is less disruptive to the community.
An estimated six to 12 loads of logs will be harvested on
average a day, dependent on the operator and the portion of the site being used.
Access to the site is through Mt. Hood Rock Products, and logging hours will be
limited to the quarry’s hours of operation from 6:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The
county also intends to market the timber to mills themselves to bring in more
value for the harvest.
“We want to go to
market our own way,” said Dobmeier about his intention to select certain timber
for potential sale at a higher value as power poles, or in the case of select
maple with figuring, to mills interested in producing for woodworkers.
He explained this as a different approach than a 2015 county
sale to Columbia Vista Corporation, a mill that bought timber on stump and
harvested solely for Douglas-fir while selling the other lumber as pulp. He
stated the county hopes to increase the value of the sale by bringing to market
all available resources and assuring active oversight of the environmental and
community impact of the entire process.
The county intends to replant the site with Douglas-fir,
Western Red Cedar and Western Red Pine. Western Hemlock is expected to seed
naturally. Dobmeier discussed then managing the site with pre-commercial
thinning on an established 50 to 60-year rotation as opposed to a 35 to 40-year
harvest cycle.
“We’re here for the long run. We want to do it the right way,”
said Dobmeier.
For more information contact County Forester Andrew Dobmeier
at adobmeier@clackamas.us or visit www.clackamas.us/forests.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Mountain residents raise concerns over increase in crime posted on 11/01/2018
Approximately 120 Mount Hood community members gathered at a
Sept. 25 meeting to discuss the increase in property crime, concerns about the
proper agency to contact to report a code violation or criminal activity and
other crime related issues with representatives from the Clackamas County
Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police.
The meeting was held at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort in
response to growing property crime increases over recent months.
The meeting was attended by Oregon State Representative Jeff
Helfrich, Clackamas County Commissioners Sonya Fischer, Ken Humberston and Paul
Savas, Oregon State Police representative Sr. Trooper Reel and Community
Service Officer Sara McClurg of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.
“Property crimes have been elevated the last three to six
months,” officer McClurg said during a follow-up phone conversation. She stated
there has been a growth of the homeless population in the region and an
increase of issues with squatters and associated criminal activity.
“We are currently pursuing a significant arrest,” McClurg
said about the recent increase in property crimes. “We’re very hopeful that
some of this will decrease.”
Brigette Romeo, manager of the Still Creek Inn in
Rhododendron, said there was widespread concern among attendees over recent
break-ins, car thefts and other property crimes. She added that there was
public concern expressed at the meeting over which agency to contact when
reporting criminal activity, code violations or wildlife encountered on property.
Officer McClurg said she is compiling a follow-up resource
page of what agency people should contact to report specific violations or
criminal activities. She added that it can be confusing as to what agency to
contact when reporting squatting or other activity on state or federal lands.
Community members also expressed concerns with sheriff
department response times at the meeting.
Officer McClurg noted that the department operates in a
large district and response time varies depending on the number of deputies
working and the severity of the incidence.
“Property crimes take a back seat to life and limb,” McClurg
said. She added that a severe incident such as a traffic fatality can require
most available department resources.
Both McClurg and commissioner Humberston cited the growing
increase in mental health problems as an issue taxing county resources.
“It plagues us just like it does every other community,”
said commissioner Humberston. “I’ve been doing ride-alongs (with county
sheriffs)
and one common comment is the increase in mental health
problems with very little resources to deal with them.”
Humberston stated the sheriff’s department is exploring the
possibility of a livability project that would increase access to a variety of
social services to address some of the mental health issues being encountered
in more rural areas in the county. He added the county has significantly more
needs than resources when addressing the scope of these problems.
“I encourage people to be alert and aware,” said Humberston,
encouraging citizens to report suspicious activity in their community. “It does
help reducing the overall crime problem.”
McClurg stated that the meeting provided insight into issues
of concern in the community. “There was a lot of passion in the room, some good
input and some issues we definitely want to address.”
Community service officer Sarah McClurg can be contacted at
saramcc@clackamas.us and more information about sheriff department resources
can be found at https://www.clackamas.us/sheriff. The Clackamas County Board of
Commissioners can be reached by email at bcc@clackamas.us.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Neighborhood Missions starts fall Harvest Festival posted on 11/01/2018
For the past few years, Neighborhood Missions (NM) held its
annual fundraiser in the spring, but observant mountain residents may have
noted its absence this year. That’s because the organization, which provides
assistance to area residence in need of food, firewood and means to pay for
utilities and more, will now hold a Harvest Festival in the fall instead.
NM’s Chair, Steve Carlson, noted the move was in part due to
a number of similar fundraisers by other nonprofits in the spring. The Harvest
Festival will feature a craft sale, bake sale and silent auction, offering
ample opportunities for some early holiday shopping, plus an appearance by
Santa and Mrs. Claus.
“We are welcoming families to bring their kids, it might be
an opportunity for a picture they can use for Christmas greetings,” Carlson
said.
The festival, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at
the Lions Club, at the corner of Woodsey Way and Hwy. 26 in Welches, will also
offer a spaghetti dinner at 4 p.m., featuring all the fixings, for $10 for
adults, $4 for children ages 4-12 and kids 3 and under are free. Beer and wine
will also be available for purchase. The silent auction will last throughout
the afternoon, while Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Carlson noted the silent auction will include a variety of
items, including several gift certificates to area restaurants and other
businesses, while a number of people and groups will be on hand offering
crafts, such as Christmas tree ornaments and cloth pumpkins.
He added that the event is the organization’s sole
fundraiser for the year. Tickets are available at the door. For more
information, call 503-564-9062.
Carlson also noted that NM’s first monthly free food market
held in September was a big success, with approximately 50 households (totaling
105 people) served. The market, part of a partnership with the Oregon Food Bank
(OFB), is held from 9-10 a.m. on the last Monday of each month in the parking
lot behind the Hoodland Senior Center, 65000 Hwy. 26 in Welches. The next two
markets will be Nov. 26 and Dec. 31.
OFB will bring food to the location, including dry goods and
in-season produce, and it will be available to everyone, as there are no
criteria or prerequisites to qualify. Participants will only be asked for their
zip code and the number of people in their household, and they are encouraged
to bring bags or boxes.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Govy CPO rallies to find funds for fire fuel cleanup posted on 11/01/2018
A yearly cleanup of fire fuels around Government Camp has
gone through a number of iterations throughout the years, including prisoners
from the Salem Women’s Correctional Center coming in last fall to do it. But
due to a lack of funding, Nick Rinard, Chair of the Government Camp Community Planning
Organization (CPO), noted that this year’s cleanup almost didn’t happen.
However, thanks to some last-minute fundraising and support,
including $1,000 from the REVEL Race Series and Simon’s Tree Service willing to
do the work for the limited budget, and the community’s fire fuels, totaling 22
brush piles, got chipped last month.
“We’re very grateful for (Simon),” Rinard said, noting that
area home owners were putting in the work to clear brush away from their
properties.
Rinard hopes to build upon the work next year, and in light
of that, one community member started a Gofundme account to help raise money
(https://www.gofundme.com/government-camp-fire-prevention), which received an
anonymous donation of $5,000.
“They’re grateful the CPO is leading this effort,” Rinard
said of the donor, adding that there has been a shift in the community
regarding fire danger. “I think the forest fires the last two years were kind
of a wakeup call for people.”
Rinard also noted that in the past, only “a trickle” of homeowners
would participate in clearing fire fuels from their properties, but he sees
momentum building with this recent effort.
He added that the topic of fire fuels is an ongoing one at
CPO meetings, including such aspects as defensible space and ladder fuels. The
next CPO meeting will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at the Mt. Hood Cultural
Center & Museum, 88900 Government Camp Loop in Government Camp.
Scott Kline, Fire Marshall for the Hoodland Fire District
(HFD), noted that some steps homeowners can take to reduce fire fuels around their properties including removing
tree limbs over the roof line and close to a house (up to one-third of the tree
height on smaller trees, keeping woodpiles at least 30 feet from a house and
removing dead and dying plants next to a house.
The HFD lifted burning restrictions on Friday, Oct. 26, but
burning is still regulated by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
based on air conditions. Up to date burn information is available on the HFD
Burn Information Line at 503-622-3463.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  'Proof'
Colin Murray, Sandy High School (SHS) theater teacher,
received a recommendation for “No, No, Nanette” as a musical that would be good
for a production, as it had a good number of roles for the talented young women
at the school. He took the plunge, and in the early going had a realization
about what the show would demand, due to the amount of dancing involved.
“You forget how much time and effort goes into dancing,”
Murray said.
But with the help of choreographer Sandy Shaner, the
production is on point, offering the story of Jimmy Smith, a publishing
millionaire, his frugal wife and their adopted daughter, Nanette. All three
wind up in Atlantic City, where the threat of scandals put marriages at risk
and comical entanglements ensue.
“It’s very much that kind of musical comedy of the 1920s
feel; there’s a lot of mistaken intentions,” Murray said. “In the end,
everybody ends up with who they should end up with and its happy. If there’s a
message, it’s probably that it’s when people really love each other, love will
win out in the end, even if there’s road bumps along the way.”
Murray added that while much of the younger crowd will not
likely be familiar with the music, veteran theatergoers and music fans will
probably know a few, especially since they were used in variety shows on
television during the 1950s and 60s, including “I Want to Be Happy” and “Tea
for Two.”
He described the songs as “ear worms,” noting the audience
will come out of the theater humming them.
“I think they’re very catchy,” Murray said, adding that it
is “exuberant music” similar to George Gershwin.
He also noted the musical includes a couple of numbers that
include tap dancing, a style of dance that most of his students had no prior
experience with. But he’s looking forward to the performers getting the unique
thrill of tap dancing in front of an audience.
“It’s such a percussive and rhythmic form, it affects
audience in a way that most music and dance doesn’t,” Murray said.
Sandy High School Drama presents “No, No, Nanette,” by
Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar, Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel, at 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17, at 37400 SE Bell Street in Sandy. Tickets are $5 for
adults and $4 for students and senior citizens. For more information, call
503-668-8011, ext. 7313.
Proof rescheduled at Wolfpack Theater
Wolfpack Theater’s production of David Auburn’s “Proof,”
scheduled for a production run last month, got pushed back into November when a
member of the cast had a mental health crisis following the opening weekend.
The show’s director, Howard Bickle, addressed the topic on
the theater’s Facebook page.
“We pray for healing and are beyond grateful that he is
still with us,” Bickle wrote. “He is a brave, talented, and beautiful
individual.”
The show, about a troubled young woman in the aftermath of
the death of her brilliant father, will now run from Thursday, Nov. 8 through
Sunday, Dec. 2. The theater will also donate 10 percent of sales from the run
of the show to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) Multnomah.
Bickle described the play as a “psychological mystery” that
poses the question of what does somebody do when their friends and family don’t
believe them.
The Wolf Pack Theater presents “Proof” from Thursday, Nov. 8
through Sunday, Dec. 2, at 39570 Pioneer Blvd. in Sandy. Show times are 8 p.m.
Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $18 for general
admission and $15 for students and seniors.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  "Woman in Black."
Ian Leiner, director of the Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company’s
(NNB) October production of “Woman in Black," by Stephen Mallatratt and based on
Susan Hill’s book, notes that while the show doesn’t have a giant monster or
haunted house, he hopes it will give the audience something to think about.
“My goal is to make people go home and before they turn on
the light they get a little creeped out,” Leiner said.
And while October is known for the spooky holiday at the
month’s end, area theaters will offer a variety of shows for theater goers.
NNB’s endeavor offers the story of a lawyer who hires an
actor to help in the recounting of the story of a woman in black, a specter
that haunts the neighborhood where her illegitimate child was accidentally
killed. Leiner noted the show is all about atmosphere, and even with it’s
frightening nature, there are some lighter moments and it’s not about startling
the audience.
“It’s not a jump scare thing,” he said, adding that it would
be appropriate for all ages.
The production features two long-time veterans of NNB shows,
Scott Caster and Justin Lazenby.
“I needed two people with really good chemistry, they work
well off of each other,” said Leiner, who has performed in numerous area
theaters and is making his directorial debut.
NNB presents “Woman in Black” from through Oct. 14 at the
Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in Boring. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on
Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12
for children and seniors, and $11 for teachers and law enforcement.
For more information, or to make reservations, call
503-593-1295 or visit nnbtheater.com.
Wolfpack Theater has ‘Proof’
Howard Bickle, Artistic Director of the Wolfpack Theater and
director of this month’s production of “Proof,” by David Auburn, described the
play as a “psychological mystery” about a troubled young woman in the aftermath
of the death of her brilliant father. Bickle added that it poses the question
of what does somebody do when their friends and family don’t believe them.
“Sometimes you need actual proof at times to build a foundation
of trust,” he said. “There’s just so many different layers. It’s pretty
complex; I really love the complex plays.”
And despite the serious topic, Bickle noted there is a lot
of comedy in it, which he feels was left out when the play was made into a
movie featuring Anthony Hopkins and Gwyneth Paltrow.
The show features three actors who have each performed in at
least two past productions with the Wolfpack. Bickle noted that continuing to
work with dynamic performers that have built a trust makes for a better
process.
“There’s just kind of an ease because we have so much trust
between the four of us,” he said, also noting that he believes the audience
will walk away thinking about the power of love and trust in relationships.
The Wolf Pack Theater presents “Proof” from Thursday, Oct.
11 through Sunday, Nov. 4, at 39570 Pioneer Blvd. in Sandy. Show times are 8
p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $18 for
general admission and $15 for students and seniors. Law enforcement, firefighters
and veterans have free admission with valid ID. For more information, visit
www.wolfpacktheater.com or call 541-722-2667.
Sandy Actors Theatre brings the October laughs
Sandy Actors Theatre’s (SAT) production of “Over the River
and Through the Woods,” by Joe DiPietro, started as a reading by a group of
people one Saturday. The show’s director, Jim Lamproe, noted that after they
were done, they all said it was worthy of a full production.
The comedy offers the story of Nick, a single
Italian-American in New Jersey. Now that his parents have moved to Florida,
Nick takes an offer for his dream job in Seattle, but his grandparents aren’t
so thrilled, and they scheme to keep him from going.
“It’s an interesting story, because what it’s telling you is
that family is important and sometimes we lose sight of that,” said Lamproe,
who is directing his first production. “Nick is more focused on career and
promotion, (he) doesn’t see value of grandparents.”
Lamproe added that he sees the same thing happening today,
with families coming as a lower priority, while previous generations often held
family first. He added that by the end, it really drives home the point for
people to cherish what they have.
SAT presents “Over the River and Through the Woods” from
Friday, Oct. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 18, at 17433 Meinig Ave. (behind Ace
Hardware). Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on
Sundays. Tickets are $18 general admission, $15 for students and seniors and $13
for children under 12 (reservations are recommended). For more information, or
reservations call 503-668-6834 or visit sandyactorstheatre.org.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| NOAA El Niño watch signals a possibility of a temperate winter posted on 10/01/2018
Although the fall colors have begun in the Mount Hood
region, winter is already predicted to arrive later and to be warmer and drier
then the past two years.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
winter weather outlook for 2018-19 predicts a 70 percent chance of El Niño
conditions developing this winter, resulting in higher-than-average
temperatures with lower-than-average precipitation in the Pacific Northwest.
The scientists at NOAA use global weather patterns as well as the development
of El Niño or La Niña conditions to make their seasonal forecasts.
“It’s kind of (looks like) what we expect with an El Niño
winter, a mild winter,” said David Bright, meteorologist with the National
Weather Service in Portland.
El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of the El
Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. The ENSO cycle is a scientific study of
the temperature fluctuations between atmospheric and ocean temperatures in the
central Pacific.
Of these two phases, La Niña is considered to be the cold
phase of the ENSO cycle, and El Niño is considered to be the warmer phase.
Bright stated that tropical water temperatures are currently
a degree higher in the central Pacific, which is in the weak to moderate range
for El Niño conditions.
In the Pacific Northwest there is a 50 to 55 percent El Niño
prediction from September through December, with above-average temperatures and
below-average precipitation.
This suggests the possibility of a slow start to winter
conditions in the Northwest with drier conditions in the fall.
In mid to late winter, January through March there is a 70
percent El Niño prediction with above-average temperatures predicted and
equal-to-average chances of precipitation after the new year.
“Precipitation signals are weaker with El Niño conditions,”
Bright said. He added it was hard to predict if the condition would impact the
amount of precipitation on the mountain, but that the winter would be milder
overall. “Let’s hope we fill the reservoirs and get some snow on the ground for
recreation.”
“Both 2016-17 and 2017-18 were La Niña, which tends to be a
cooler, wetter winter,” Bright added. “We’re looking at a milder winter.”
As recently as 2017-18 the Northwest received higher levels
of precipitation then the initial NOAA forecast.
Current information about the ENSO El Niño Watch can be
found online at https://www.climate.gov/enso.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Local vacation rental company signs on to regional website posted on 10/01/2018
The launch of a new vacation rental website experience –
NorthwestStays.com – has attracted a local professional to its association.
NorthwestStays was created to unite regional vacation rental
managers under the single mission of increasing awareness and tourism specific
to the vacation rental industry throughout the Pacific Northwest, California,
Hawaii and British Columbia.
“Travel and tourism are booming and yet the market is more
diverse and challenging than ever, particularly for individual property managers,”
said Dan Eby, president of Northwest Vacation Rentals which has launched the
new website. “It’s our job as property managers to find new and innovative ways
to showcase properties and support the industry as a whole.”
Betsy LaBarge, president and CEO of Mt. Hood Vacation
Rentals, attended a few conferences in Seattle and was attracted to the members
representing smaller boutique companies in the Northwest – a group which grew
into the association that would better represent its members.
“I joined the association this year and a benefit of
membership is to have the privilege and opportunity to list our vacation
rentals at NorthwestStays.com.,” LaBarge wrote in an email to The Mountain
Times. “The main goal is to showcase the best property managers with the best
vacation rentals in the Pacific Northwest to the traveling public and to offer
them a way to find vacation rentals in several areas that they can have
confidence in knowing they will be clean and well-maintained and the visitor
will be treated well.”
LaBarge added that the cherry on top is that visitors will
pay less through the new site than by using other resources like HomeAway or
Airbnb which add service fees, or Booking.com where the rates may be increased by
the property manager to cover the 15 percent commission that is charged.
Besides being cost effective, the website allows visitors to
explore and compare multiple websites in one place and click over to learn more
information or to book directly via member websites.
The association requires unique qualities in its members.
“The company must be professional and represent high quality
homes that are clean and safe,” LaBarge said. “The company also needs to engage
in ethical and legal business practices.”
Besides Mt. Hood Vacation Rentals, the Mountain community is
also represented in the association by All Seasons Property Management.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
|  The cougar.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) ended its
operation to capture a cougar that killed Diana Bober, 55, a Gresham woman
hiking on the Hunchback Trail, after all available evidence indicated a cougar
captured and later destroyed on Friday, Sept. 14 was responsible for the
attack.
“It is highly probable that the cougar that killed Diana is
the one that we killed last week,” said Derek Broman, ODFW carnivore
coordinator, in a press release dated Friday, Sept. 21.
Bober had not been seen or heard from since Wednesday, Aug.
29 and had been reported as missing to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office on
Friday, Sept. 7. Her body was found off the Hunchback Trail on Monday, Sept.
10, and it was determined that her injuries were consistent with a cougar
attack.
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our sympathy goes out to
Diana’s family and friends,” said Brian Wolfer, ODFW watershed manager
Bober’s death was the first verified fatal attack by a wild
cougar in Oregon and initiated a search that included multiple agencies and the
closure of more than 21,000 acres in the Mount Hood National Forest around the
attack site.
The cougar killed was detected on a trail camera set near
the site where the attack occurred, and during the week following its capture,
no other cougars were detected in the area or on a network of 31 cameras set on
trails, wildlife corridors, saddles and other areas where cougars are likely to
travel in a 35-square mile area around the attack site. The cougar was a
female, but not lactating.
Kendra Payne, Principal at the Welches Schools (located
close to the trail where the attack occurred), said that parents of students
received a note explaining that students and staff would not be able to access
unfenced areas of the school’s campus, including fields and nature trails
during the search for the cougar. The school features six-foot security fencing
surrounding the school’s perimeter and playground area and Payne added that
additional fencing around the school’s upper fields is expected to be added in
the coming months.
After the cougar was killed, it was taken to a lab in
Ashland dedicated to wildlife forensics, but due to contamination at the attack
site, no relevant DNA from the scene was available for comparison.
“We could not get the DNA evidence we had hoped to obtain in
this case,” Broman said. “However, all the evidence available shows we have the
right cougar.”
Broman noted it was impossible to determine the motivation
for the attack and that there were no signs the animal was unhealthy, including
that a rabies test was negative. He added that cougar attacks are extremely
rare in the western United States.
“We hope the ending of these operations brings some closure
for Diana’s family,” Broman said. “All of us extend our deepest sympathies to
the Bober family.”
The U.S. Forest Service reopened the area closed during the
cougar capture effort on Monday, Sept. 24.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Jiyeon, Leanna and Rick.
When customers drop in to Mt. Hood Roasters in Rhododendron,
they’re likely to have their steaming java delight served up by Leanna Little.
After all, she’s been there for five years.
But don’t be deceived. There’s more to Leanna than a great
cup of coffee. To wit:
Her ideas and efforts have helped Mt. Hood Roasters recycle
225 cubic feet of plastics, metal and paper; recycle more than one thousand
glass bottles; recycle roughly half a ton of cardboard; switched the company
from 5-pound plastic to 5-pound paper with corn-based PLA liners resulting in
the removal of an additional 300 pounds of plastic from the supply chain.
And this year, Leanna is pushing the company to stop using
non-compostable cups, lids and straws. This will remove more than a ton of
non-compostable refuse from the earth.
World Cleanup Day was celebrated last month, and it was
fitting that Leanna’s efforts were recognized at Roasters where she was
rewarded with a 3-day, 2-night stay in the Herman Melville Room at the Sylvia
Beach Hotel in Newport, a bonus check of $100, and a copy of Moby Dick that was
signed by the friends, families and guests in attendance.
“I am honored, humbled and overwhelmed,” Leanna said. “I
hope that one day everyone cares as much as I do for the home that we all
share.”
Among the guests was Susan Mead, secretary of Recycling
Advocates of Oregon.
“As a loyal customer of Mt. Hood Roasters … I was thrilled
to attend the ceremony to recognize Leanna Little’s recycling efforts on behalf
of your company,” Mead said. “Thank you Mt. Hood Roasters for your
contributions towards a greener planet earth.”
Roasters owner Jiyeon Applegate added that her home country
of South Korea is one of the top four world leaders in recycling.
“Less than half of the waste output is sent to the
landfill,” she said. “I want my company … to achieve the same success. Leanna
is one of the main people helping us get to that goal.”
Jiyeon’s husband and owner of Roasters, Rick Applegate,
reflected on the company’s commitment to being an industry leader in
sustainable business practices.
“Leanna is helping us lead that charge,” he said. “We want
to put pressure on other coffee shops and food service businesses to follow our
example. Our sustainability motto this year is ‘No plastics – No gimmicks.’
It’s not about cute marketing ideas, it’s about changing decades of old habits
and just committing to removing and reducing plastics from our inventory.
Permanently.”
Drop in and pay homage to the paper straw, and notice the
celebratory passing of plastic.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Senior Center to escape the mountain’s shadow in new logo posted on 10/01/2018
Mount Hood towers above its surrounding communities, and its
name and iconic visage are commonly incorporated into the names and logos of
local businesses and organizations. This frequent usage can make it hard for
individual groups to differentiate themselves.
Oct. 1 marks the half way point for entry in a two-month
logo redesign contest being held by the Hoodland Senior Center (HSC), in an
attempt to escape the long shadow of the mountain and find a new symbol of the
ethos the center stands for.
“We want something that better represents the center,” said
Ella Vogel, director of the HSC, about the logo contest.
The senior center, located at 65000 E Hwy. 26 in Welches, is
a nonprofit organization that provides resources, performs outreach and serves
as a social outlet for isolated members of the senior population in the Mount
Hood communities.
Vogel stated the current logo, a circular emblem featuring
Mount Hood surrounded by colorful rings, doesn’t distinguish the nonprofit from
other organizations in the region that use the mountain as part of their
symbol.
The contest began Sept. 1 and runs through Oct. 31. Entries
can be mailed, emailed or presented at the center. The contest is open to the
public.
Vogel said that by opening the design process to the
community, the HSC hopes to find another representation that symbolizes their
place and service in the region.
The winning entry will be awarded with the choice of a
Timberline or a Mount Hood coverlet from the center.
“They’re one of our most popular items,” Vogel said. The
coverlets are sold by the center and retail for $60.
The entries will be judged by an eight-member HSC board
panel, and the winner and runner-up will be announced in the Mountain Times.
The new logo will be used for the senior center’s
newsletter. The HSC does have a website and Facebook page although neither are
active. Vogel stated the new logo would be incorporated into both if they were
returned to active status.
The HSC can be reached by phone at (503) 622-3331 or by
email at hoodlandseniors@frontier.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Family Fright Night returns to Timberline posted on 10/01/2018
While Timberline Lodge famously played a role as the
Overlook Hotel in the classic movie, “The Shining,” Timberline’s Director of
Marketing & PR, John Burton, noted that there aren’t any ghost stories or
the like surrounding its history.
But that won’t stop the lodge from hosting the annual Family
Fright Night, an event featuring Halloween activities starting at 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 27.
“It’s the alternative to a typical house-to-house
experience,” Burton said. “You come up to the Lodge and get it all.”
That includes many free activities such as scavenger hunt,
trick or treating, candied apples, decorating cookies, a pumpkin contest, a
costume contest, ghost stories for children, other stories for teens and adults
and a special late-night screening of “The Shining.”
Zombie laser tag, with time slots for hotel guests only and
for the public, will also be available for $10 per person.
The event has been going on for years, Burton noted, adding
that many participants go to all ends for it.
“Parents get into it, they dress up,” he said. “You can be
walking around the halls and there’s people in costumes everywhere. It’s good,
clean, Halloween fun.”
For more information, visit www.timberlinelodge.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  A helicoptor moves wood.
For nearly a decade, members of the Sandy River Basin
Partners (SRBP) have built log structures, placed boulders, replanted native
species and reconnected channels in efforts to return degraded river habitats
to breeding grounds for endangered salmon and steelhead in the Mount Hood
region.
“We’re trying to reset the clock where we can,” said Greg
Wanner, supervisory fish biologist for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). “We’re
trying to get back to historic conditions.”
The projects have achieved recent success with work on Still
Creek, resulting in the creek being officially declared on a trajectory to
being restored, according to Jeff Fisher, habitat monitoring coordinator for
the Freshwater Trust (FWT). The FWT and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
also completed a significant project at the Wildwood Recreation Area on the
Salmon River this August.
“We are confident from extensive monitoring that we have put
back what we need to in the river to restore the habitat,” said Fisher. The FWT
reports a 350 percent increase in winter steelhead on the river between 1998
and 2016.
During the course of the projects, the FTW placed 196 large
wood structures on the two waterways and more than 3,000 pieces of large wood.
In 1964, the Army Corps of Engineers straightened sections
of the Salmon River and removed large wood and rocks from the floodplain in
response to a historic flood. This attempt to reduce flooding instead
unnaturally enlarged the water flow and increased the likelihood of flooding.
The engineering efforts also decreased habitat diversity, and as a result,
native fish populations.
“In the past we thought we could engineer our way out of
problems. Now we think of how we can work with nature and not fight her,” said
Wanner about the current efforts to return the bodies of water to their natural
state.
The placement of large wood creates deep pools, returns
stream complexity and provides refuge and spawning habitat. Restoration efforts
aim to reconnect the rivers and streams to their historic floodplains and
create side channels for spawning.
“Since we started in 2012 we’ve been seeing Coho Salmon
smolts increase (in Still Creek),” said Wanner. “There are areas of Still Creek
that haven’t seen water in 50 years that we now have salmon spawning in.”
Almost all work completed on the Salmon River has been done
on BLM land. Wood provided by the BLM and USFS have allowed the projects to be
completed at a fraction of the cost.
“It’s a six-mile stretch that we’ve been able to accomplish
a huge amount,” stated Fisher.
Restoration efforts will continue in the region with
projects on Lost and Cast creeks underway this summer.
SRBP work at Lost Creek is scheduled for completion in 2019.
“(We’ve) just made incredible progress restoring habitat
working with our partners,” said Jennifer Velez, BLM spokeswoman.
The 12 members of the SRBP include: Association of Northwest
Steelheaders, Bureau of Land Management, City of Portland Water Bureau,
Clackamas County Department of Transportation and Development, East Multnomah
County Soil and Water Conservation District, National Marine Fisheries Service,
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, The Freshwater Trust, Sandy River Basin
Watershed Council, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and
U.S. Forest Service.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Sandy’s pool upgrades a taste of things to come posted on 09/01/2018
As a steady stream of customers flowed through the doors at
the Sandy Aquatic Center on a weekday morning in August, Sandy Community
Services Director Tanya Richardson was hesitant to say that numbers of users
were up over previous years. She noted it was “hard to determine,” but that
lessons had more students (including up to 200 during the summer) and that open
recreation time had been busy.
But with visions of a Sandy Community Campus, including a
new recreation pool and parks improvements to the property the city acquired
from the Oregon Trail School District, the work and progress already undertaken
is notable. Since Richardson took her position in March 2017, the facility’s
upgrades include replacement of bleacher seating, ADA bathrooms, safety
upgrades, designated areas for parties, family changing areas, painting, a new
front desk area and even an inflatable course for the pool.
These are the first steps for the city as it looks toward
the loftier goal of a Community Campus, a projected $74 million project that
will take many years to complete, all while improving the current facility
after years of disrepair and deferred maintenance and installing programming
that will (at some point) offer sustainability.
“It’s an art, to be able to program and understand what
people need and what they want,” said Kim Yamashita, Sandy City Manager, about
Richardson’s work. “As we move forward and improve (the pool), it’s just going
to get better.”
Richardson came to Sandy after undertaking a similar project
in Virginia, where she had three years to get that pool to pay for itself but
accomplished the goal in six months.
“The community obviously needed it and we filled the need,”
Richardson said. “We’d like to see something like that in Sandy.”
Yamashita, who sees the campus project as a way to provide a
destination for visitors, noted that the lack of space is the biggest obstacle
for making the current pool financially successful. The current operations are
being supplemented by the city’s general funds, while upgrades to the pool’s
HVAC and plumbing will close the facility for up to a year starting in the fall
of 2019 as part of the first phase of construction of the Community Campus.
Phase 2 of the project will include construction of a new
indoor recreation pool, including slides and other features, in front of the
current pool building, while Phase 3 will offer improvements to the surrounding
park areas. Yamashita noted that the city currently has funding for Phase 1,
which will leave the current pool facility “operationally efficient.”
To help pay for the campus, Yamashita sought feedback from
city residents on funding options (including a utility fee of up to $8 and a
bond) during the Mountain Festival, adding that just one person opposed a bond.
“We might explore that option as well,” Yamashita said,
adding that the city will meet with local organizations and hold open houses to
get more feedback. “We have a lot of research to do before we launch that.”
Yamashita noted that a fee structure at the new facility
would include discounts for Sandy residents with the opportunity for those
outside the city to buy a discount card at the same rate of the utility fee to
gain the same discount.
The full scope of the project will also see the demolition
of the front building at the former Cedar Ridge Middle School, while the city’s
Information Technology Department has moved into the bottom of the rear
building. Yamashita noted the city is currently out of storage space and part
of that rear building could serve as storage, and eventually she envisions an
event space, with a patio for catered events, overlooking an amphitheater with
seating for approximately 700 people.
“We’re just exploring all of those options and funding for
those,” Yamashita said, adding that another option would be to move City Hall
to that building and use the current City Hall building for a library annex. “I
appreciate the community’s patience and support while we work through this huge
undertaking.”
The city will hold two open houses for community input: from
9-11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8 and 7-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, both at the Sandy
Library community room, 38980 Proctor Blvd. in Sandy.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Mountain inhabitants honored at cross-cultural celebration posted on 09/01/2018
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs will host an all-day
ceremony Sept. 22 to celebrate the history of their ancestors, the earliest
inhabitants of Mount Hood.
Participants will have the opportunity to experience the
traditional culture of the Warm Springs, Paiutes and Wasco tribes at the eighth
annual Confederated Tribal Celebration at Skibowl’s west side. The event
celebrates the travels to the huckleberry fields near Mirror Lake for a late
summer harvest. Some rode, but many walked from their homelands in the lower
valleys to gather the food of the forests.
“This land is culturally significant to the members of the
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and we are honored to celebrate their
heritage here each September,” said Kirk Hanna, owner of Mt. Hood Skibowl.
Eight years ago, Hanna established a permanent cultural
exhibit for the tribes in what was once the Outback Lodge at Skibowl. The
building was rededicated as the Wiwnu Wash (translates as huckleberry patches)
Mt. Hood Tribal Center.
“What Kirk has done for our tribes is enormous,” said Delson
Suppah, coordinator of the tribal celebration. “He has given us the opportunity
to tell the truth about this land.”
Suppah traveled to the slopes at Skibowl as a child.
“It touches me when I think about my mother, grandmother and
aunts walking up the hills to pick wild huckleberries, carrying baskets while
we kids ran and played around,” he said. “By hosting this annual celebration,
Kirk is acknowledging that all citizens need to honor and understand the true
history of the first inhabitants of this land. People will get to learn about
the history of our tribal elders.”
The ceremony kicks off with the arrival of a dozen tribal
members on horseback in full ceremonial regalia of handmade buckskin, beads and
feathers. The riders will leave Skibowl East at 9:30 a.m. and arrive at Skibowl
West for the 10 a.m. opening ceremonies.
Following the symbolic arrival, the day’s events will
include comments from tribal elders about the history of the area. There will
be a Living Village, tribal dancing and drumming, a salmon bake and tribal arts
and crafts venders from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nearly 100 tribal members will
participate in the celebration.
A cultural exchange will take place whereby coaches from
Interscholastic Mountain Bike teams will provide riding lessons to Warm Springs
students. Skibowl has a 30-year history operating the premier mountain bike
parks on Mount Hood. After, bike team members will join in the tribal dances.
The noon meal features salmon on sticks, corn on the cob,
baked potato, salad and fry bread. Cost of the meal is $25 for adults and $10
for children 12 and under, and can be purchased on site.
Schedule of Events
8 a.m. – Living Village (Tee Pee) and setup
9:30 a.m. – Riders leave Eastside for Westside
10 a.m. – Wa Shut, prayers and welcome from Kirk Hanna
11 a.m. – Ladies from Cultural Heritage in Wiwnu Wash share
culture and tradition with guests
Noon – Salmon Bake
1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Dance exhibition/drummers;
Interscholastic Mt. Bike Racing coaches offer biking lessons; Bike team
participates in dancing
5 p.m. – Closing Ceremony
By Monica Cory/MT
|
|  Contributed photo.
Premier Mount Hood snowsports camps High Cascade Snowboard
Camp (HCSC) and Windells Ski and Skateboard Camps and Academy have long been
leading destinations for professional-level ski and snowboard instruction, with
a historic rivalry that has given way to a partnership in the face of
industrywide declines and challenges over the past half-decade.
Mount Hood is the only year-round ski area in North America,
drawing skiers and snowboarders of all levels to its summer slopes.
“In 2017 the biggest Canadian camp, the Camp of Champions,
went bankrupt,” said Kevin English, academy president and CEO of the We are
Camp, LLC partnership. “We’re the last year-round ski and snowboard camps in
North America. We see ourselves really flying the flag.”
The camps formed a 50-50 partnership in 2014, and this
summer found the programs further consolidated, sharing the Windells’ campus
off Hwy. 26 in Welches for both camps’ youth attendees.
The partnership was described by English as a response to a
decline in attendance beginning in 2012, with both camps being below capacity
for subsequent years.
Data from the Snowsports Industry of America shows
participation in skiing and snowboarding peaking in 2011 with 11.5 million
skiers and 8.2 million snowboarders before declining by 20 percent and seven
percent respectively over the following five years.
English also cited a decline in youth sports participation,
increased specialization in sports at a younger age and a smaller youth
demographic as challenges the camps face.
“We’re trying to have
a set of best-in-class camps on the same facilities,” said English, describing
the company’s approach to the changing market.
HCSC focuses on snowboarding exclusively while Windells’
offers ski and skateboard instruction. English added that We are Camp, LLC
looks to develop the skate program into its’ own distinct entity on the shared
campus in a further attempt to separate the camps as industry leaders in their
respective categories.
This year the camps sold out of all five ski and snowboard
sessions and also two skateboard sessions.
“I didn’t hear much complaining that everyone was riding
together,” said English. “The energy was up. It was all in one location.”
HCSC campers staying at the Welches facility have access to
the acclaimed skate park on campus as well as the trampolines, foam pits and
other training facilities. Both camps benefit from shared use of the terrain
parks on the mountain, the private lifts and access to professional skiers and
snowboarders.
The camps maintain close ties with U.S. Olympic National
teams, who use the camps’ world-renowned parks on Palmer Glacier for their
training programs. They also feature professional riders, including former X
Games and Olympic medalists, during different sessions each year.
“The number one thing in camp is the people,” English said
about this summer’s turnout. “Getting the number of people up was amazing. It
really gets the energy up.”
The camps host between 1,000 and 1,400 guests annually and
are working to build out facilities on their shared campus and further develop
the skateboard program.
“These are camps we want people to send their grandkids to.
We consider ourselves in the young part of our legacy,” said English.
HCSC can be contacted on the internet at
www.highcascade.com, and Windells Academy and Camps can be contacted at
www.windells.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Contributed photo. Partnership yields fruit for rival camps posted on 09/01/2018
Premier Mount Hood snowsports camps High Cascade Snowboard
Camp (HCSC) and Windells Ski and Skateboard Camps and Academy have long been
leading destinations for professional-level ski and snowboard instruction, with
a historic rivalry that has given way to a partnership in the face of
industrywide declines and challenges over the past half-decade.
Mount Hood is the only year-round ski area in North America,
drawing skiers and snowboarders of all levels to its summer slopes.
“In 2017 the biggest Canadian camp, the Camp of Champions,
went bankrupt,” said Kevin English, academy president and CEO of the We are
Camp, LLC partnership. “We’re the last year-round ski and snowboard camps in
North America. We see ourselves really flying the flag.”
The camps formed a 50-50 partnership in 2014, and this
summer found the programs further consolidated, sharing the Windells’ campus
off Hwy. 26 in Welches for both camps’ youth attendees.
The partnership was described by English as a response to a
decline in attendance beginning in 2012, with both camps being below capacity
for subsequent years.
Data from the Snowsports Industry of America shows
participation in skiing and snowboarding peaking in 2011 with 11.5 million
skiers and 8.2 million snowboarders before declining by 20 percent and seven
percent respectively over the following five years.
English also cited a decline in youth sports participation,
increased specialization in sports at a younger age and a smaller youth
demographic as challenges the camps face.
“We’re trying to have
a set of best-in-class camps on the same facilities,” said English, describing
the company’s approach to the changing market.
HCSC focuses on snowboarding exclusively while Windells’
offers ski and skateboard instruction. English added that We are Camp, LLC
looks to develop the skate program into its’ own distinct entity on the shared
campus in a further attempt to separate the camps as industry leaders in their
respective categories.
This year the camps sold out of all five ski and snowboard
sessions and also two skateboard sessions.
“I didn’t hear much complaining that everyone was riding
together,” said English. “The energy was up. It was all in one location.”
HCSC campers staying at the Welches facility have access to
the acclaimed skate park on campus as well as the trampolines, foam pits and
other training facilities. Both camps benefit from shared use of the terrain
parks on the mountain, the private lifts and access to professional skiers and
snowboarders.
The camps maintain close ties with U.S. Olympic National
teams, who use the camps’ world-renowned parks on Palmer Glacier for their
training programs. They also feature professional riders, including former X
Games and Olympic medalists, during different sessions each year.
“The number one thing in camp is the people,” English said
about this summer’s turnout. “Getting the number of people up was amazing. It
really gets the energy up.”
The camps host between 1,000 and 1,400 guests annually and
are working to build out facilities on their shared campus and further develop
the skateboard program.
“These are camps we want people to send their grandkids to.
We consider ourselves in the young part of our legacy,” said English.
HCSC can be contacted on the internet at
www.highcascade.com, and Windells Academy and Camps can be contacted at
www.windells.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Local aid group to hold monthly food market posted on 09/01/2018
Steve Carlson, Chair of Neighborhood Missions (NM), noted
that a goal of the organization – which has aided area residents in need of
food, firewood and means to pay for utilities, rent, prescriptions and more for
more than 20 years – is to be more broadly based in the community. The
organization has functioned through the Hoodland Lutheran Church and will now
also partner with the Oregon Food Bank (OFB) to provide a monthly free food
market. The free food market will take place from 9-10 a.m. on the last Monday
of each month, starting with Monday, Sept. 24, in the parking lot behind the
Hoodland Senior Center, 65000 Hwy. 26 in Welches.
“We’re excited about this,” Carlson said, noting OFB
contacted the organization last winter about the prospect of becoming a partner
agency. “We’re also excited about a new partnership with Senior Center.”
OFB will bring food to the location, including dry goods and
in-season produce, and it will be available to everyone, as there are no
criteria or prerequisites to qualify. Participants will only be asked for their
zip code and the number of people in their household, and they are encouraged
to bring bags or boxes to transport the food to their home. Carlson added that
NM will continue with its usual food distributions, which consist of people in
need calling in to leave a message about their needs and a delivery will be
arranged. The phone number is 503-622-9213.
“We will continue doing that, which will really be
supplemental for some people,” he said.
For more information, email hoodlandlutheranchurch@gmail.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Clackamas County rolls out new emergency notification system posted on 09/01/2018
Clackamas County Disaster Management Outreach and Technology
Coordinator Jamie Poole remembered in 2011 when the Clackamas County Emergency
Notification System pushed out messages to Mountain residents during the Dollar
Lake Fire. But that system, which can notify area residents with important
information about disasters and other events, became obsolete on Sept. 1, with
the implementation of an upgraded system, #ClackCo Public Alerts, and Mountain
residents are highly encouraged to sign up to receive messages via text, phone
and email.
“We want as many people to register as quickly as possible,”
Poole said, adding that the county had just monitored a three-alarm brush fire
in Eagle Creek in case evacuations were needed.
“It’s not Big Brother,” added Hoodland Fire Chief John
Ingrao, noting that messages will be limited to critical information about
events including flooding, fires and other emergency responses. “Its use is an
automated form to get critical info out in a timely manner.”
Those who enrolled in the old system will not be carried
over and will need to reenroll at www.clackamas.us/publicalerts.
Important messages that could be relayed include notices to
evacuate, shelter-in-place, shelter locations and other extremely important
information. The county will not use any registered #ClackCo Public Alerts
contact information for anything other than these emergency notifications.
Poole recommended that each family member create their own
account to receive messages, while users can set a priority list for what
device receives the messages first (once acknowledged, messages will not be
sent to other devices). Users can also edit their information, while the system
is location based (so users who frequent one address on the mountain, including
part-time residents, should also enroll).
More information can be found at www.clackamas.us/dm. By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  Ripcord at CRT
David Smith-English, Artistic Director of Clackamas
Repertory Theatre (CRT), noted that the staff at the theater are reading plays
“all the time,” in a constant search for what ones to do next. And when he first
read David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Ripcord,” it stood out immediately.
“I was struck by the fact that here is a play that has two
terrific roles for two women in their 70s,” Smith-English said. “I thought,
wow, you just don’t see that very often. Especially something that is funny.
It’s sharp and it’s pretty sophisticated.”
CRT first performed the play as a staged reading and now
brings back the two lead women, Anita Sorel and Randi Douglass, the director,
Smith-English, and two other actors for a full production, opening this month.
Smith-English noted that the two main characters, Marilyn
and Abby, are pitted against each other in a contest. The pair share a room in
the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility, but Abby’s desire to get rid of
Marilyn leads to a bet that escalates into a dangerous game of one-upmanship.
Smith-English added that there is a benefit to having so
many people who worked on the stage reading come back for the full production.
“These guys are a little bit familiar with one another and
of course with the play itself,” he said. “Things tend to percolate a little
bit and grow over time. When this cast comes in, they feel ready to go.”
Smith-English noted the show is about relationships,
including how your past has brought you to where you are today and how people
can continue to grow. And he noted how Lindsay-Abaire brings Marilyn and Abby
along a journey that draws them together.
“In the process, some warmth develops between them,”
Smith-English said. “It’s a really nice growth process.”
CRT’s production of “Ripcord” runs from Thursday, Sept. 6
through Sunday, Sept. 30, at the Niemeyer Center on the Oregon City campus of
Clackamas Community College, 19600 Molalla Avenue in Oregon City. Show times
are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. For
more information, visit clackamasrep.org or call 503-594-6047.
Cast returns in Sandy, too
Actor and director James Bass has one rule for his work: he
swore he would never direct and act in the same show. But it is said that rules
are made to be broken, and Bass followed suit, taking the helm of the Sandy
Actors Theatre’s (SAT) September production of “Bill W. and Dr. Bob;” a
production that reunites the cast from seven years ago.
“The director needs to be an advocate for the audience,”
Bass said, noting that the director of the earlier production, Jim Wilhite,
will play an advisory role this time. “But this is a cast that I trust, all
people that are talented, professional, amazingly good hearts. If I was going
to break that rule, this was the only group of people I would do that for.”
The play, written by Samuel Shem and Janet Surrey, offers
the story of the two men who pioneered Alcoholics Anonymous and their wives,
who founded Al Anon. The story is a meaningful one for Bass, now 11 years
sober.
“It’s always amazing to me in retelling this story that it
reminds me of what is necessary,” Bass said, noting how difficult it can be to
quit alcohol. “The providence that created a program that works for some
people.”
He added that the first time SAT mounted the show, it was
such a hit that they had to turn away hundreds of people. Bass credited it as
not being preachy or a puff piece about the program, but offering a personal
and real story about the founders.
“It’s really a very well written script,” he said. “It truly
is a wonderful retelling.”
SAT presents “Bill W. and Dr. Bob” from Friday, Sept. 7
through Sunday, Sept. 30, at 17433 Meinig Ave. (behind Ace Hardware). Show
times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets
are $18 general admission, $15 for students and seniors and $13 for children
under 12 (reservations are recommended). For more information, or to make
reservations call 503-668-6834 or visit sandyactorstheatre.org. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Dan Taylor and his Steiner cabin
Henry Steiner didn’t imagine his cabins would last
generations. Constructed around Mount Hood during the first half of the 20th
century by the German master craftsman and his family, the cabins were intended
as vacation homes for Portlanders that would last for 20 or 30 years before
succumbing to the elements.
“(They) didn’t think the cabins would be there … they were
trying to send people home with a paycheck,” said log cabin builder Mark
Fritch, relaying his conversations with Henry’s son, John Steiner, about the
construction of the acclaimed cabins, many of which were crafted during the
hardships of the Great Depression. Fritch formed a friendship with John during
John’s later years and works to repair and maintain the family-built cabins.
Nestled on the banks of Henry Creek in Rhododendron, two
Steiner cabins have recently seen dramatic restoration. One cabin has been
thoroughly modernized as a contemporary family retreat while maintaining the
classic details of Steiner craftsmanship. The other is in the midst of a lengthy
renovation to return the cabin to its 1935 condition.
Both cabins will be part of the 14th annual Steiner Cabin
Tour on Saturday, Aug. 11. The tour is conducted by the Mt. Hood Cultural
Center and Museum and is currently sold out.
Fritch said that John Steiner described to him how the
scarcity of the era had led the family to employ resourceful building methods
that utilized available materials in the surrounding land, with little thought
of creating a lasting historic impact. Now the nearly hundred-year-old
structures are praised for their artistic and skilled construction, have been
recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and stand as iconic
examples of the Oregon Rustic Style architectural movement.
Two thoughtful restorations
Dan Taylor fell in love with Steiner cabins during college
in the seventies while staying at his friend Dan Kavanaugh’s family cabin. The
two school friends ran power to an old outbuilding on the property they
nicknamed “The Natural High” and used it as a summer hangout for their
adventures on the mountain.
Years later when the opportunity to purchase a 1932 Steiner
cabin down the street from his friend’s place came up, Taylor jumped on the
opportunity, purchasing the cabin with his brother and sister. The vacation home
came with a quirky midcentury remodel with orange shag carpet, lime green vinyl
flooring and a stove with only three working burners. It served as a happy
family get away for many years.
After years of family use and with children growing up and
going off to school, Dan and his wife Mary Kay found themselves the sole owners
of the cabin. They embarked on an extensive restoration to modernize the cabin
while retaining the original Steiner character with the aid of Fritch and
Portland designer Rhoda Divers.
The rehabilitation involved plumbing and electrical updates
and hefty structural repairs, including replacing rotting support logs in a
corner of the house. The Steiner cabins were constructed without foundations
and frequently develop rot in the sill logs on the ground level.
“We tried to match and maintain the integrity of the
original look,” Taylor said while describing the intensive process of sanding
and staining replacements to match the existing logs after 80 years of exposure
to the elements.
The Taylors pulled up the carpets and vinyl flooring in the
kitchen to reveal beautiful fir floors and stained the wood interior of the
cabin to create a warm and inviting living space. Foundation rot in the kitchen
posed another challenge and required enlisting a mill to source wood to match
the old fir planks and cut new flooring.
They discovered masonry constructed by John Steiner behind a
hearth added years after original construction. They also restored the original
windows, maintaining the signature Steiner red frames.
Other elements of the cabin have been brought into the
modern era, including opening up the living space with a kitchen island with
granite countertops, replacing the old three-burner stove, restructuring of the
bathrooms and adding space-efficient cabinetry to the mudroom. The rear deck
has been expanded to flow down to the creek and add additional room for
congregating in concurrence with Henry Steiner’s intention that the stream
would be a focal point for cabin life.
The end result is a home the family loves that maintains the
comforting elements of a classic log cabin while adding modern elegance and
convenience.
“It’s a cozy, fun home … it’s very enjoyable,” said Taylor
about the finished cabin.
Further downstream lies George and Binnur Jutras’s 1935
Steiner cabin, also undergoing major rehabilitation. George discovered the
cabin while on a mountaineering trip to climb Mount Hood and is determined to
return the cabin to its historic state for use as a base camp for his climbing
trips and explorations of the region.
The Jutras’s cabin had not been heavily altered by previous
owners and was in close to original condition when the family acquired it,
although in need of major repair.
“It’s not just a log cabin … it’s a lot of history
involved,” George said while describing his approach to the restoration. “I
want to bring it back to the condition it was in after the last nail was
driven.”
George is also working with Fritch to address structural
issues the cabin faces. Two large firs towered over a corner of the cabin when
purchased, and their roots caused the cabin to tilt at a precipitous angle.
“If you put a ball on one end it would roll to the other,”
Jutras said about the extent of shifting that had occurred to the cabin.
The firs were laboriously excavated and removed before the
cabin was leveled and placed on a new foundation. The foundation repairs
revealed that the sill logs, as well as some vertical logs in the kitchen, were
plagued with rot and had to be replaced.
The roof has been returned to cedar shake, while the Jutras
family sourced materials from a dilapidated Steiner cabin on Hwy. 26 to replace
five rotted-out windows with originals and provide replacement planks for the
kitchen floor.
The cabin features many notable Steiner design elements
including a sunburst gable, a snow-bent log bannister, doorknobs and curtain
rods fashioned from gnarled tree roots and bay windows in a kitchen alcove
opening onto the creek. It contains signature masonry work by John Steiner, who
used basaltic fieldstone to construct the fireplace.
The cabin had slowly settled over the past 80 years, causing
the fireplace to tilt and eventually split and crack along the back. While
leveling and reconstructing the cabin, Fritch discovered large scorch marks on
the logs in the wall behind the fireplace. “It was two or three large fires
away from burning down,” Fritch stated.
With these issues resolved, the cabin is well on its way to
returning to its original state. The Jutras have even procured a 1934 stove
refurbished to use propane and a retrofitted 1930 refrigerator to painstakingly
recreate the detail of the era.
“I want to make it feel like you’ve stepped back in time,”
George said about his family’s project of transforming the historic Steiner
cabin. By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
|  Anna Wilson.
While Lauren Carusona initially thought of the idea of a
Hoodland Farmers' Market a couple years ago, she didn’t take action until this
past June, when she got the ball rolling in short order to open the market on
Sunday July 1. That work included finding vendors, insurance, zoning and more,
but the payoff was impressive as people packed in at the Rendezvous Center for
the inaugural market.
“I was just like overwhelmed with gratitude,” Carusona said,
noting she wanted to bring “real food” up to the mountain so people didn’t have
to travel far for it. “I was almost kind of like shocked, it was a little
surreal for me. It went from an idea and to a real thing. It was really
special.”
Carusona, who has lived on the mountain for 10 years and is
a nutritional therapist, noted that vendors will change, but there are
approximately eight spots where people can buy local produce, soap, jewelry and
more. She hopes to expand offerings in the future and potentially bring in some
live music, but doesn’t plan on bringing hot food vendors so that patrons can
support the restaurants in the center.
Carusona added that she wants to bring awareness to the
community on the importance of eating healthy and connecting with food instead
of getting it from a package. She sees the market as a way to bring people back
to the ways we ate before food was processed and created by big companies.
Next year, Carusona wants to make preparations a little less
hectic and get started planning the market in February, with a May opening.
“It’s just kind of a learning experience,” she said. “It’s
great it’s been so successful, it’s really humbling.”
The Hoodland Farmers' Market is open from 1-4 p.m. every
Sunday through the end of September, at the Rendezvous Center, Hwy. 26 and E.
Greenwood Drive in Welches. For more information, find “Hoodland Farmers'
Market” on Facebook. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Oregon kids count on us, so they should be ‘counted’ posted on 08/01/2018
The looming danger of a census undercount in 2020 would
present a serious threat to Oregon children.
Already, 12 percent of Oregon kids under five years old are
at risk of being missed in the census as federal programs that support child
well-being are in jeopardy, according to the 2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book released
June 28 by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Oregon ranks 30th in the nation in overall child well-being.
While Oregon continues to lead the majority of states in children’s health care
coverage, improvements in education have lagged with Oregon ranking 48th in the
nation in high school education. Additionally, Oregon is far behind much of the
country in enrolling young children in early education programs.
“Systemic barriers and inequities both past and present have
left us with an uneven playing field,” said Tonia Hunt, executive director of
Children First for Oregon. “Deep disparities … persist for children of color,
low-income children, children in immigrant families and children in rural
communities.”
An improperly funded census will only contribute to these
disparities.
“We can achieve an inclusive survey by building and
strengthening strategic community partnerships, spreading awareness, and
removing questions related to citizenship status in order to safeguard the
efficacy of the 2020 census,” Miranda Rabuck, communications director of
Children First for Oregon wrote in an email to The Mountain Times. “It isn’t
too late to conduct a census that provides proper funding, representation, and
programs that support the healthy development of kids.”
Census outreach efforts face daunting challenges, with
children in underserved communities most at risk of being undercounted. These
same children also stand to suffer the most in the event that vital programs
face reductions in funding.
“More than $2 billion in federal funds are allocated each
year to programs in Oregon such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program and Head Start using census-derived data,” Hunt said. “An inaccurate
census could put these funds – and the essential resources they provide for
communities – at risk.”
This data should prompt urgency from policymakers and
communities to do right by our kids, Hunt added. “Children lack political power
and representation. It’s up to all of us to ensure all kids are counted and
considered national and state priorities.” By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Dragonfly spreads its wings with second location posted on 08/01/2018
Rori Klingbeil opened her first establishment, the Dragonfly
Café and Bakery in Welches, five years ago and credits her mother with starting
her baking. Klingbeil noted it was her mother’s dream to open a bakery with her
but that she passed away before the café was opened.
Now, her mother’s dream has inspired her to go forward with
now her second undertaking in the Welches community, the Dragonfly Bakery,
located in the space formerly occupied by the Hazelnut House Bakery at 24525 E.
Welches Road.
“The restaurant runs well because of the love … I love this
mountain,” Klingbeil said, adding that she hopes to continue to grow and expand
her business, including the possibility of opening an additional ice cream
store. “One (business) is a lot to handle but the community needs and wants
it.”
The Dragonfly Bakery opened on July 21 to positive local
response and quickly sold out of all baked goods on their first day.
Klingbeil’s master baker Belinda Torres produces a wide
variety of baked goods including red velvet bars, bear claws, coffee cake,
cinnamon rolls, seasonal berry tarts and scones as well as fresh breads. The
bakery will offer a rotating array of pies and gourmet five-layer cakes to
order. Prices for baked goods range from $2 to $35.
The menu also includes a small array of gluten-free baked
goods and Klingbeil plans to increase the line of options as the bakery grows.
She also intends to expand menu offerings to include soup
and fresh bread in the upcoming months.
Beverage options include Mt. Hood Roasters coffee, fruit
juices and chocolate milk.
The cozy space offers 14 seats in the bakery and additional
outside seating. It will be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Dragonfly Bakery can be contacted by phone at
503-622-2400 or online at www.dragonflymounthood.com. By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Hood View Gardens holds food drive posted on 08/01/2018
Dennis Nash, one of the co-owners of Hood View Gardens,
noted that some of the customers that walk through his door may need help from
Neighborhood Missions.
The community outreach program sponsored by Hoodland
Lutheran Church provides food, wood, and financial assistance for heating,
medicine, utilities, gas vouchers and transportation for those in the community
in need.
And to help them, Hood View Gardens will hold a canned food
drive to benefit the Neighborhood Missions food pantry from Tuesday, Aug. 7
through Sunday, Aug. 19.
“What better way to help the community,” Nash said, adding
that he didn’t know about Neighborhood Missions until this summer.
For the drive, people can bring in three cans or jars of
high-protein food items such as canned tuna, salmon, chicken, beef or turkey,
peanut butter, pinto or black beans, lentils, chili, oats or quinoa and receive
a 20 percent discount off their entire purchase, or bring in three items of
pasta, canned corn, green beans, peas, rice or toiletry items and receive a
discount of 10 percent off their total purchase. All items must be in new and
unopened containers, and cans need to be free of dents and cannot be expired or
near expiration date. Discounts cannot be combined with other discounts.
Nash noted that if the response is strong, the event could
be recurring each year.
Hood View Gardens is located at 46870 Hwy. 26 in Sandy.
Business hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 10 a.m.
to 3 p.m. on Sunday (closed Monday). For more information visit
Hoodviewgardensllc.com or search for “Hood View Gardens” on Facebook. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| PGE requests variance for communication tower posted on 08/01/2018
Portland General Electric (PGE) submitted a variance
request, dated June 13, to build a 150-foot tall, three-legged communications
tower at 69050 Hwy. 26 (near the intersection of Hwy. 26 and Woodsey Way) on
4.54 acres of property owned by the company that already features a substation.
PGE also plans on installing a 12-foot by 18-foot pre-fabricated equipment
enclosure and above ground communication equipment, surrounded by an 8-foot tall
chain linked fence.
The variance is required because the tower is closer than
150 feet from the property lines (the required setback is equal to the tower
height) and because towers are capped at 100 feet. The property is zoned as
Hoodland Residential, which allows for communication facilities and towers.
In a letter PGE wrote to Clackamas County Land use, signed
by Julie Goodrich from Property Services and dated May 22, the company noted
that demand for electricity has caused the electrical grid to grow and requires
electrical system upgrades.
“This requires upgrades to the communication system between
the base station, vehicle mobile units, hand-held portable radios, dispatch and
other appurtenances to allow installation, repair, and maintenance of the electrical
system infrastructure,” noted the letter. “The proposed upgraded communication
equipment is a direct response to increased local demand for electricity and
would accommodate and benefit future development in the community.”
The letter also added that the tower needs to be 150-feet
tall for the antennas to be above obstructions and provide sufficiently large
radio coverage. No colocation on the tower would occur due to interference.
The application was presented before the Rhododendron
Community Planning Organization (CPO) at its meeting on Saturday, July 21. The
property’s location falls outside the organization’s area, but it presented the
application for informational purposes and because the Mount Hood Corridor
Community Planning Organization is inactive.
At the meeting, the CPO unanimously approved a motion to
write a letter to the county in support of the application.
The county sent notice of the application, dated Monday,
July 9, to property owners within 750 feet of the property. Comments were due
within 20 days of this notice to be sure they were considered prior to a
decision. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| PGE requests variance for communication tower posted on 08/01/2018
Portland General Electric (PGE) submitted a variance
request, dated June 13, to build a 150-foot tall, three-legged communications
tower at 69050 Hwy. 26 (near the intersection of Hwy. 26 and Woodsey Way) on
4.54 acres of property owned by the company that already features a substation.
PGE also plans on installing a 12-foot by 18-foot pre-fabricated equipment
enclosure and above ground communication equipment, surrounded by an 8-foot tall
chain linked fence.
The variance is required because the tower is closer than
150 feet from the property lines (the required setback is equal to the tower
height) and because towers are capped at 100 feet. The property is zoned as
Hoodland Residential, which allows for communication facilities and towers.
In a letter PGE wrote to Clackamas County Land use, signed
by Julie Goodrich from Property Services and dated May 22, the company noted
that demand for electricity has caused the electrical grid to grow and requires
electrical system upgrades.
“This requires upgrades to the communication system between
the base station, vehicle mobile units, hand-held portable radios, dispatch and
other appurtenances to allow installation, repair, and maintenance of the electrical
system infrastructure,” noted the letter. “The proposed upgraded communication
equipment is a direct response to increased local demand for electricity and
would accommodate and benefit future development in the community.”
The letter also added that the tower needs to be 150-feet
tall for the antennas to be above obstructions and provide sufficiently large
radio coverage. No colocation on the tower would occur due to interference.
The application was presented before the Rhododendron
Community Planning Organization (CPO) at its meeting on Saturday, July 21. The
property’s location falls outside the organization’s area, but it presented the
application for informational purposes and because the Mount Hood Corridor
Community Planning Organization is inactive.
At the meeting, the CPO unanimously approved a motion to
write a letter to the county in support of the application.
The county sent notice of the application, dated Monday,
July 9, to property owners within 750 feet of the property. Comments were due
within 20 days of this notice to be sure they were considered prior to a
decision. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| ‘Bear in mind’ – steps we can take to avoid conflicts with bears posted on 08/01/2018
For many forest dwelling communities, it’s common knowledge
that we share the woods with animals of all shapes and sizes. Some of these critters,
like songbirds, we welcome to our homes with open arms offering food and well
wishes. Other animals, particularly those with sharp teeth and claws, are less
welcome because they can harm pets, property or even people.
Black bears, with their keen sense of smell, are
particularly susceptible to the draw of an uncleaned barbeque grill, an
unlocked dumpster, a dangling bird feeder or a half-eaten bowl of pet food on
the back porch. Bears are extremely vulnerable to the dangerous habit of
associating human communities and food opportunities. Once a bear gains access
to human food or garbage and becomes “habituated” it can lose its natural fear
of humans which can lead to a variety of safety problems for both people and
bears. Sadly, because bears habituated to human food sources are known to
repeat these behaviors, they cannot be relocated and must often be euthanized
to protect public safety. This means that Oregon’s black bears need our help to
keep themselves, as well as our own communities, safe.
Oregon is home to an estimated 30,000 black bears, many of
which live in the northwest part of the state. With so many bears and people
trying to occupy the same space, conflicts are inevitable. Specifically, the
area along highway 26 between Sandy and Government Camp requires the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife to respond to a high volume of human-bear
related conflicts. On a regular basis, citizens in these areas report bears
raiding garbage cans, damaging property and coming too close for comfort to humans.
Several factors may be contributing to this “hot spot” of encounters including
numerous bears in the area, a growing human population, and a constant flux of
recreationists and vacationers.
The good news is that these human-bear conflicts can be avoided.
By following a few simple guidelines, our communities can be safer places for
both people and bears. Here are a few recommendations on how we can help:
– NEVER feed bears.
– Clean and secure garbage cans and barbeques, take garbage
with you when leaving your vacation home or rental, and wait to place garbage
cans on the street until the morning of pickup.
– Feed pets indoors and minimize bird feeding when bears are
active between spring and fall.
– Remove fallen fruit and other attractants and encourage
neighbors to do the same.
Bear-proofing your yard and neighborhood has been proven to
reduce potentially dangerous encounters and together we can keep Oregon bears
wild!
For more information on how to live with black bears visit
www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_with/black_bears.asp
Kurt Licence/MT
(Kurt Licence is a wildlife biologist with the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife based at ODFW’s regional office in Clackamas.)
|
|  Nattali Rize and her band
Douglas Carnie, owner of NWWRF LLC and operator of the
Northwest World Reggae Festival, is happy the event has landed on Mount Hood.
In its 14th year overall and its second on the Mountain, Carnie noted that the
festival’s focus is on “conscious” music with a positive message and creating a
family friendly environment.
“We want to be the festival that people can come out to get
a high-quality show and bring their kids,” Carnie said, noting the event does
not include a beer garden or sales of alcohol. “Sometimes it seems like we have
more kids than adults.”
The festival, with gates opening at 9 a.m. Friday July 27
and running through Sunday, July 29, offers 20 acts, with bands originating
from Africa and England to the Pacific Northwest, including names like Tuff
Lion and Zili Misik. Carnie described the music as Roots Reggae and the
festival avoids “dance hall” music.
The event started in Eugene, where it continued for
approximately 10 years before coding changed and the search for a new venue
began. Carnie first served as a production manager but took the reins of the
event and switched it to an LLC a few years ago and now co-produces the event
with Megan Stolle.
Last year marked the first year on Mount Hood and Carnie
noted that interest has picked up with this year’s event around the corner.
“We’re definitely getting a lot more (interest),” he said,
adding that they have a long-term agreement with the landowner. “We really like
this site; we’re not going any place.”
Carnie expects approximately 1,500 people to attend this
year. He added that the event is also geared to be sustainable for the
environment, with organic food booths, biodiesel generators, a tree planted for
every ticket sold and other sustainable practices.
Carnie also noted the event includes larger camping spaces
and a bigger venue this time around.
Gates open at 9 a.m. Friday, July 27 and the event ends on 8
p.m. Sunday, July 29, at 58800 E Marmot Road in Sandy. Camping is available
(including car and RV camping), with tickets starting at $30, children 14 and
under are free and youth 15-17 with an adult are half price. Parking is $10.
For more information, visit www.nwwrf.com or find the
festival on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NorthWestWorldReggaeFestival. Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  The main lodge
A groundbreaking celebration at Camp Arrah Wanna revealed a
campground from a bygone era; historic lodges in need of major structural
renovations and facilities and lodgings whose rustic accommodations and
outdated bathrooms seem to offer more of an experience “roughing it” than the
general “glamping” amenities that are found in many contemporary getaways.
The groundbreaking for the renovation of the upstairs lodge
quarters marked the beginning of an ambitious $3.6 million “Generations of
Promise” fundraising campaign to update the main lodges, overhaul the
campgrounds and add additional staff to handle daily operations.
The small, mostly senior aged crowd gathered for the June 2
ceremony of the renovation campaign at the main lodge were eager to share the
importance of the camp throughout all stages of their lives and their hopes of
finding a way to make the camp maintain relevance to younger generations as
well as meet the changing expectations for retreat facilities both religious
and secular.
Camp Arrah Wanna was established by The American Baptist
Churches (ABC) of Oregon as a nonprofit camping ministry.
The camp was originally located along the South Santiam
River in the region that is currently Cascadia State Park.
Seth Young, former camp director, moved the camp to its
current location in 1941, and his family has been deeply involved with running
the camp for three generations. “A lot of lives have been changed up here,”
Seth said during a luncheon for the groundbreaking. “I hope it stays a beacon
for God,” he added when discussing the plans for the camp’s future.
His granddaughter, Laura Young Burch is the current camp
executive director and is organizing the revitalization campaign with her
father Paul Young. Paul detailed their plan to make the grounds more adult and
group friendly, as well as efforts to support the local community by providing
firewood and serving as a shelter during floods or power outages.
He explained that 75 to 90 percent of camp guests in recent
years were not affiliated with the ABC and added that funding for the camp was
always difficult. His father Seth said fewer young ABC churchgoers were
attending the camp currently then in prior years.
The first phase in updates to attract renewed interest in
the camp is a $1.7 million, five-year plan that begins with renovating main
lodge guest quarters, performing extensive foundation repair to the main lodge
and overhauling the dining hall. The plan includes transforming a secondary 55
person sleeping capacity lodge by remodeling bathrooms, updating bedrooms and
improving interior meeting spaces.
The second phase of the plan involves creating year-round
staff housing, conference style facilities and adding additional staffing and
operations support.
At the time of the groundbreaking $652,00 had been pledged
toward the campaign from individuals and a grant.
Camp Arrah Wanna is located at 24075 East Arrah Wanna
Boulevard.
The camp can be contacted by phone at 503-622-3189 and via
email at info@camparrahwanna.org. Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Pesticide collections continue to rise posted on 07/02/2018
The seemingly impossible task of removing dangerous chemicals
from our environment has been taken up by the Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality (ODEQ). And the results have been impressive.
In June, a pesticide collection in Clackamas County
collected 19,500 pounds of old, unusable, or restricted pesticides, according
to Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District Program Manager Lisa Kilders.
“Surprisingly, the quantities collected at these events
remain steady,” Kilders wrote in an email to The Mountain Times. “Since 2007,
the total quantity of pesticides collected at events held in Clackamas County
equals 151,915 pounds. That is just slightly less than 76 tons.”
Agricultural, commercial, and institutional pesticide users
took advantage of the opportunity to get rid of their chemicals at no cost to
them.
Without the ODEQ event, many pesticides would remain,
creating the possibility of spreading chemicals into the environment. Kilders
pointed out that these chemicals exist for many reasons, such as some land
owners inherited old pesticides when a farming operation closed down, while
others discovered stores of chemicals when they purchased a business or
property. Also, with the passage of time, some chemicals have become restricted
or expire and can no longer be applied.
The free event allows farmers the chance to responsibly get
rid of old pesticides instead of mixing them and needlessly spraying them
somewhere just to get rid of the product.
The pesticide collection events, held across Oregon, are
funded generally from grants, as was the case with the June event in Molalla.
The event is successful because of partners working together. The city of
Molalla opened Bolander Field, outreach and advertising were provided by the
Clackamas and Marion Soil and Water Conservation Districts. ODEQ handled
disposal funds and coordinated with Clean Harbors, the disposal company.
Protecting water quality is a team effort, Kilders noted. Larry Berteau/MT
|
|  REVEL Big Cottonwood
Up to 3,000 people, runners and those who support them, are
expected to be on Mount Hood on Saturday, July 28 for the inaugural REVEL Mt.
Hood marathon and half marathon. And while they will all get to experience the
joy of running in the scenic beauty that surrounds Mount Hood, a number will
also be vying to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
Cydney Westgate, Vice President of Business Development for
the REVEL Race Series, noted that the races they organize are downhill affairs
(the Mt. Hood marathon will go from Timberline Lodge to the Rainbow Trout Farm,
while the half marathon will start on Lolo Pass and go to the Rainbow Trout
Farm), offering faster race times and allowing more qualifiers to the Boston
Marathon. Westgate estimated that many racers can shave off up to five minutes in
a REVEL race.
“A lot of people think (qualifying for the Boston Marathon
is) not going to happen,” Westgate said, adding that some racers run other
marathons many times without being fast enough. “That downhill part is really
an edge.”
Westgate noted that in the REVEL Rockies race held last
month, approximately 29 percent of the field of about 2,000 racers qualified.
The Mt. Hood Marathon will start at an elevation of 5,620 feet and drop to 862
feet, a difference of 4,758 feet, while the half marathon will see a drop of
897 feet.
The first race in the REVEL series, Big Cottonwood in Utah,
is now in its seventh year, while there are also races in Southern California,
Las Vegas, Tucson and Denver. Westgate noted the group has been working on
adding the Mount Hood race since last year, looking to capitalize on holding
the race an atypical and beautiful location while also offering a fast course.
“They really wanted to get people out in the really
beautiful national parks,” Westgate said. “I can’t think of a more beautiful
place than the Pacific northwest.”
The race will also offer an opportunity for nonprofits in
the community to capitalize, as local organizations can staff one of several
milepost stations (handing out water and helping runners) throughout the course
to earn some money. Coni Scott, Volunteer Coordinator for the event, noted that
while the race will help nonprofits in this way, it will also help area
businesses as well with a number of people staying overnight and eating in
restaurants.
“It’s going to bring business to us,” Scott said, adding
that people can also volunteer for a discount to be in a future REVEL race or
just out of the kindness of their hearts.
Westgate described the community response as “phenomenal,”
noting that the race will require approximately 300 volunteers from
organizations including Ant Farm, the Rhododendron Community Planning
Organization and more, and the event is family friendly.
“It’s great because REVEL really takes pride in giving back
to the community as well,” she said. “We take pride in leaving things cleaner
than we found it and really growing with the community.”
The event, which could be a yearly event on Mount Hood, is
open to the public, but there will be no parking at the finish line or on
Sylvan Drive during the event.
Parking and shuttles will be available at Sandy High School,
37400 Bell Street in Sandy.
Registration for the event will be open until Friday, July
27. The first wave of racers will begin at 5:15 a.m. on Saturday, July 28.
For more information, visit www.runrevel.com. Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Hoodland Senior Center named Super Heart Hero posted on 07/02/2018
Ella Vogel, director of the Hoodland Senior Center, accepted
an award for the center’s efforts to assist isolated seniors at the May 24
Clackamas County Board of County Commissioner’s Business Meeting.
Each May is Mental Health Awareness Month in Clackamas
County. For the past three years the Clackamas Behavioral Health Division
(CBHD) has recognized local individuals and organizations with Super Heart Hero
awards for their contributions toward promoting good mental health in the
community.
This year’s awareness month focused on older adults and
issues of loneliness that result in greater mental and physical health
problems.
Vogel accepted the Super Heart Partner Award, which
recognizes organizations that implement innovative behavioral health programs
that positively affect the emotional well-being of the community.
“Something important for people to realize is that it’s not
just professionals, we need our community working with people to reduce the
stigma of mental health challenges,” said Nina Danielsen, CBHD health promotion
coordinator.
Danielsen described the center’s efforts to combat
loneliness and isolation in the senior population. “They have done remarkable
work out there,” she added.
During her presentation at the commissioner’s meeting, CBHD
Director Mary Rumbaugh defined loneliness as “that feeling of being alone that
makes you feel sad or isolated,” and described it as “a powerful indicator of
mental and physical health issues.”
According to CBHD data from 2015 to 2017 people 55 and older
account for 33 percent of all suicides in Clackamas County.
The center helps seniors in the Hoodland area by providing
access to the Clackamas County Meals on Wheels program, assistance with rides
to doctor’s appointments and other activities, aid with clothing and shelter
and by providing both a place to socialize as well as a link to the community.
“We’re helping people in need who don’t have any other
outlet,” said the senior center’s assistant to the director Leita Bibler. She
listed a variety of issues older people without family, friends or a means of
self-transportation encounter. “Sometimes it’s just knowing the right
resources.”
Bibler added that the senior center is a nonprofit
organization that provides its’ community outreach through volunteers.
During the ceremony Rumbaugh presented the Super Heart Hero
award to Vogel and praised the center, saying “They love their jobs because
they love the community they serve. They are the unsung heroes.”
After all the awards were presented commissioner’s board
Chair Jim Bernard expressed gratitude to all recipients on behalf of the board.
“It’s a big county and a lot of people need help and service. We could never do
it without folks like you.”
Hoodland Senior Center is located at 65000 Hwy. 26 in
Welches and can be reached by phone at 503-622-3331 and on the internet at
http://www.mthood.info/hoodlandseniors. Benjamin Simpson/MT |
| Lineup announced for Timberline Mountain Music Festival posted on 07/02/2018
Tradition continues this Labor Day, Sept. 3, with the
Timberline Mountain Music Festival at the historic lodge’s outdoor
amphitheater.
“We have again teamed up with the Boyd Coffee Company and
the Mt. Hood Brewing Company to host the 2018 Timberline Mountain Music
Festival,” Timberline’s Jon Tullis wrote in an email. “Admission is free. You
won’t want to miss it.”
Food and beverages will be served on the back “pickin’
patio” and attendees are invited to bring their own instruments to join in the
jams led by the Taborgrass Players. There will also be outreach tables staffed
by The Friends of Timberline, The Pacific Crest Trail Association, The Oregon
Bluegrass Association and the U.S. Forest Service.
No dogs or picnic lunches are permitted. Musical
performances run from 12:30 p.m. to sunset, rain or shine.
This year’s lineup includes:
Mountain Honey, at 12:30 p.m. A local favorite, their sweet
and golden acoustic music inspired by traditional bluegrass, features driving
banjo and high lonesome harmonies. The group is made up by Linda Leavitt
(vocals, guitar, mandolin), Dee Johnson (vocals, bass), Greg Stone (vocals,
guitar) and Mike Stahlman (vocals, banjo).
Kate Power and Steve Einhorn, at 1:15 p.m. The popular
Portland folk duo have shared the stage with such folk luminaries as Pete
Seeger and Tom Paxton. Their wholesome sound and entertaining performance
features Kate’s award-winning songwriting, lovely harmonies, Steve’s dry humor,
and their occasional forays into today’s ever-popular sound of the ukulele.
The Talbott Brothers, at 2:30 p.m. This dynamic duo has captured
an enthusiastic audience with their harmonies, catchy melodies and fresh
indie-folk sound. Nick and Tyler Talbott call Portland home, but are most often
touring nationwide and are a popular draw on the summer festival circuit.
The Caleb Klauder Country Band, at 4 p.m. Another huge act
from Oregon, the festival for years has received requests to bring this man to
the festival. A founding member of the popular 90s band Calobo, and today’s
widely celebrated Foghorn Stringband, Caleb’s band captures the timeless sound
of classic country music and western swing.
Claire Lynch at 5:30 p.m. She will get you on your way home
feeling like you are walking on air after such a great day of music. Claire
Lynch, this year’s headliner, is an IBMA award winner (including female
vocalist of the year) and a three-time Grammy nominee, the most recent
nomination coming in 2017. She has been long praised as a creative force in
acoustic music and is an exceptional songwriter and intensely soulful singer.
Her excellent band and distinctive voice resonate with power, strength, and
stage presence. Band members include Bryan McDowell (vocals, fiddle), Jim Hurst
(bluegrass guitar), and Mark Schatz (bass). Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Lineup announced for Timberline Mountain Music Festival posted on 07/02/2018
Tradition continues this Labor Day, Sept. 3, with the
Timberline Mountain Music Festival at the historic lodge’s outdoor
amphitheater.
“We have again teamed up with the Boyd Coffee Company and
the Mt. Hood Brewing Company to host the 2018 Timberline Mountain Music
Festival,” Timberline’s Jon Tullis wrote in an email. “Admission is free. You
won’t want to miss it.”
Food and beverages will be served on the back “pickin’
patio” and attendees are invited to bring their own instruments to join in the
jams led by the Taborgrass Players. There will also be outreach tables staffed
by The Friends of Timberline, The Pacific Crest Trail Association, The Oregon
Bluegrass Association and the U.S. Forest Service.
No dogs or picnic lunches are permitted. Musical
performances run from 12:30 p.m. to sunset, rain or shine.
This year’s lineup includes:
Mountain Honey, at 12:30 p.m. A local favorite, their sweet
and golden acoustic music inspired by traditional bluegrass, features driving
banjo and high lonesome harmonies. The group is made up by Linda Leavitt
(vocals, guitar, mandolin), Dee Johnson (vocals, bass), Greg Stone (vocals,
guitar) and Mike Stahlman (vocals, banjo).
Kate Power and Steve Einhorn, at 1:15 p.m. The popular
Portland folk duo have shared the stage with such folk luminaries as Pete
Seeger and Tom Paxton. Their wholesome sound and entertaining performance
features Kate’s award-winning songwriting, lovely harmonies, Steve’s dry humor,
and their occasional forays into today’s ever-popular sound of the ukulele.
The Talbott Brothers, at 2:30 p.m. This dynamic duo has captured
an enthusiastic audience with their harmonies, catchy melodies and fresh
indie-folk sound. Nick and Tyler Talbott call Portland home, but are most often
touring nationwide and are a popular draw on the summer festival circuit.
The Caleb Klauder Country Band, at 4 p.m. Another huge act
from Oregon, the festival for years has received requests to bring this man to
the festival. A founding member of the popular 90s band Calobo, and today’s
widely celebrated Foghorn Stringband, Caleb’s band captures the timeless sound
of classic country music and western swing.
Claire Lynch at 5:30 p.m. She will get you on your way home
feeling like you are walking on air after such a great day of music. Claire
Lynch, this year’s headliner, is an IBMA award winner (including female
vocalist of the year) and a three-time Grammy nominee, the most recent
nomination coming in 2017. She has been long praised as a creative force in
acoustic music and is an exceptional songwriter and intensely soulful singer.
Her excellent band and distinctive voice resonate with power, strength, and
stage presence. Band members include Bryan McDowell (vocals, fiddle), Jim Hurst
(bluegrass guitar), and Mark Schatz (bass). Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Rhody dispensary has new ownership posted on 07/02/2018
Michael Budd and his wife, Cheryl, were in Oregon last year
in search of finding the right marijuana business to acquire.
The pair rented a car and drove around the state, but
couldn’t find anything.
Fate intervened, however, as the pair missed their flight
back home to Indiana and in the extra day they were here, got a call about the
Mt. Hood Rec Center in Rhododendron as a possible match.
Budd drove up to the mountain, met the staff and made a deal
that afternoon to purchase the business. He and his wife caught the next flight
back home, bought an RV and drove back to the Mountain to run the dispensary,
now named the Mt. Hood Cannabis Company.
“About the only mistake I made was I didn’t realize Oregon
didn’t have sales tax,” Budd said, noting that he could have saved money on the
RV purchase. “I was very lucky. It’s a wonderful business, our customers are
wonderful (and) I have a great staff.”
Budd, who had an advertising agency in Indiana, noted that
they’ve basically stayed out of running the business since they took over last
December, focusing on marketing, community engagement and augmenting what the
staff does without changing what they do really well. That includes one
employee who was named “Budtender of the Month” recently by Oregon Leaf.
Budd has found about half the business comes from locals and
half from tourists and the dispensary offers a range of products that appeal to
all of them.
“We try to keep a real wide selection of moderately priced
products for our local customers,” Budd said, adding that revenues are derived
equally from edibles, concentrates and flower. “We provide a discount for all
local residents all the time.”
Budd is also looking to expand offerings, with the addition
of six green-friendly tiny houses that will offer tourists a chance to tour a
working farm and enjoy a cannabis-infused meal.
The first tiny house is already on site, while Budd hopes to
sell five more to investors and split the revenue with them.
The Mount Hood Cannabis Company is open from 10 a.m. to 9
p.m., seven days a week, at 73410 Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron. For more information,
call 503-622-4272 or visit www.mthoodrec.com. A store menu is available at
www.leafly.com. Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Laurie Crabb's design.
Zigzag resident Laurie Crabb almost didn’t submit an entry
for the logo contest spearheaded by the Rhododendron Community Planning
Organization’s (CPO) Rhody Rising subcommittee.
She noted that it was only about 10 days before the March
deadline that she learned about it in The Mountain Times.
“It ended up being kind of an 11th hour effort, literally
delivering artwork to the meeting for first judging round,” Crabb said. “I had
just finished it the night before.”
At the CPO’s May 19 meeting, Crabb’s design stood alone as
the winner of the contest, the one logo selected from the 45 entries originally
submitted.
She added that there were a lot of good entries, including
ones she voted for during the first round of voting in March.
“I was very pleasantly surprised,” Crabb said. “It’s very
pleasing that my work was able to stand up in that field.”
Crabb, who has lived on the mountain for 15 years and has
worked at the Rendezvous Bar and Grill for the past 10 years, has always been
into drawing, painting and sculpting, and she also received a bachelor's degree
in illustration from Pacific Northwest College of Art. She noted that while she
doesn’t do a log of graphic design, she found the contest a challenge because
there was no input from a client, as typically might happen when creating a
logo.
To create her design, Crabb selected some of the visually
iconic elements of the area, including Mount Hood with the alpenglow, the
forest and the rhododendron flower, then sketched out a concept and narrowed it
down.
As the winner, Crabb received four vouchers for Mt. Hood
Adventure, a ski rental package at Otto’s Ski Shop in Sandy, a gift certificate
for $25 at the Skyway Bar and Grill, a gift certificate for 18 holes and a cart
for two at the Mount Hood Oregon Resort and $500 cash.
Four finalists made it to the May 19 meeting, and while
Steve Graeper, CPO President, didn’t release the final voting tally, he noted
that a total of 30 votes were cast by the CPO constituents and that Crabb’s
logo “won handily.”
“I’m very pleased with how the contest went,” he said. “Any
one of those logos would have been a great logo. We really appreciate the work
that everyone did.”
Graeper expects to get some mock-ups done for a t-shirt and
a mug with the logo on them for the next CPO meeting. If all goes well, he
added that there could be items featuring the logo for sale during the annual
Steiner Cabin tour this August.
Crabb noted that she’s looking forward to seeing the logo on
items and that it should lend itself well to being printed.
The Rhody Rising subcommittee will hold a community input
meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, in the Trees Room at the Mt. Hood Oregon
Resort, 68010 East Fairway Ave. in Welches. Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Climber’s family sues County for negligence and wrongful death posted on 06/02/2018
John Jenkins, 32, of Seattle, was the 106th recorded
climbing death on Mount Hood, and the first in nearly two years.
He fell from the Hogsback ridge May 7, 2017, skidded
approximately 600 feet and was later pronounced dead at a Portland hospital, as
reported in The Mountain Times in the June 2017 issue.
One year hence, Clackamas County, Clackamas County Sheriff
and Clackamas 911 have been named as defendants in a lawsuit involving the
climber’s death.
“First and foremost, the county wants to extend condolences
to the Jenkins family,” County Public Information Officer Tim Heider wrote in a
May 15 county press release. “Climbing the wilderness area of Mount Hood is an
inherently dangerous activity that sometimes results in the loss of life. When
all the facts are presented, the county is confident they will show that the
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and our C-COM 911 Department responded
appropriately to this tragic accident.”
The Jenkins family suit claims that the death could have
been avoided, saying the rescue helicopter arrived too late. The suit seeks $5
million in noneconomic damages and $5 million for loss of future income, plus
costs and disbursements in an amount to be determined, citing the rescue was a
case of negligence and wrongful death.
The lawsuit, filed by Portland attorney Jane Paulson in
Circuit Court, states that “Clackamas County 911 transferred the call to CCSO.
Connie Haider from the CCSO did not call for help and told the caller to
contact Timberline ski patrol despite being told the climber was a climber, not
a skier and was outside the ski area.”
The first call came in at 11:26 a.m. of the climbing
accident, according to information The Mountain Times received from the CCSO.
According to the lawsuit, “at approximately 10:48 a.m. a
call was received by Clackamas County 911 reporting the fall and Clackamas
County 911 transferred the call to CCSO. Connie Haider from the CCSO did not
call for help and told the caller to contact Timberline ski patrol. At 11:25
a.m. a call was placed by Timberline Ski Patrol to Clackamas County 911 (which)
transferred the call to CCSO. At 11:37 a.m. Portland Mountain Rescue (PMR)
asked Timberline Ski Patrol to request a helicopter. At 12:11 p.m. PMR told
CCSO that a helicopter was needed. At 12:29 Oregon Emergency Management called
Oregon National Guard to request a helicopter. At 3:11 p.m. the helicopter
arrived at the scene. As the helicopter arrived and attempted to secure
plaintiff into a basket and lift him to the helicopter, he stopped breathing
and lost his pulse.”
The lawsuit continues, claiming defendant Clackamas County
was negligent in one or more of the following particulars: (a) in failing
timely request of a helicopter to the fall site; (b) in failing to tell the
climbers and rescuers to do a ground rescue; and (c) in routing the calls on
the mountain about plaintiff’s rescue to improperly trained community services
officer.
“The county is very proud of the fine work of the women and
men who are involved in search and rescue efforts,” Heider wrote. “They risk
their lives to save the lives of others.”
As this litigation is pending, county officials will not be
conducting media interviews around this issue, according to the press release.
Climber rescue
On Saturday, May 26, rescue units plucked another injured
climber from Mount Hood.
Volunteer rescue climbers from Portland Mountain Rescue made
contact with 35-year-old Joshua Hawk near Hogsback Ridge. Rescuers verified
that the climber was in serious but stable condition.
But it took nearly 10 hours to deliver Hawk to a waiting
helicopter at Timberline Lodge due to high winds that reached 50 knots,
delaying helicopter access to the area. He was subsequently transported to a
Portland hospital. As of Tuesday, May 29, Hawk remained in serious condition. Larry Berteau/MT |
| Chuckwagon Breakfast celebrates its 60th anniversary posted on 06/02/2018
A limerick composed by Mt. Hood Lions Club member Jim
Espenel to celebrate the 60th annual Chuckwagon Breakfast, held later this
month, begins, ““There once was a Lion from the Hood, who often was up to
no-good.”
The Lions Club hopes to get up to a lot of good raising
money for their community projects by making a lot of bacon and eggs during the
June 30 and July 1 event, a major fundraising event for the club.
The brunch will take place at their clubhouse located at
Hwy. 26 and Woodsey Way in Welches.
The annual occurrence is customarily held as close to the
Fourth of July as possible and will be held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. the weekend
before the holiday.
“It’s a very traditional breakfast,” said club member David
Buoy. “We’ve been doing the same thing for three or four decades; it hasn’t
changed.”
The meal includes eggs to order, pancakes, bacon and
sausage, with coffee and juice and is all-you-can-eat.
“It’s kind of a mountain tradition,” Buoy added, “a lot of
people know about it.”
The club expects to serve between 350 and 500 breakfasts
each day.
“We try to have the smell of bacon wafting over to the
neighboring (Saint John in the Woods) Catholic church by the time mass gets
out,” Buoy said, laughing, “and hopefully get a mention from the pulpit.”
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the breakfast, first
held in 1958 in the old mule barn at Camp Zigzag on East Lolo Pass road.
Club president-elect Milt Fox II recalled washing dishes as
a child at the first event and stated that the funds from the breakfasts have
allowed the club to give out thousands of shots and immunizations to the
community over the years.
The breakfast was originally started by the club’s health
committee to fund health projects and has shifted to providing financing for
other club projects as healthcare became more readily accessible in the region.
“Everything we do we try to put back to the community,” Fox
said, describing the club’s goals of providing resources for the Mount Hood
area.
Proceeds from the breakfast are used to offer scholarships
awarded each year at Sandy High School, support the “Reading is Fundamental”
program at Welches Elementary School, provide health screenings for glaucoma
and cataracts and sponsor local Boy and Cub Scouts Pack 173.
While discussing the upcoming breakfast, Fox said he “hopes
for good weather and a good crowd,” to support the club’s community outreach
programs. “It’s our longest continuous fundraising event.”
Tickets are $6 in advance, $7 at the door for adults, $4 for
children 10 and younger and will be available at Welches Mountain Hardware,
Clackamas County Bank and Mountain Roasters Coffee throughout June. There will
be a daily raffle at the breakfast with donated local items. Additional support
for the breakfast is provided by the Hoodland Thriftway and Boy and Cub Scouts
Pack 173.
For additional information regarding the Chuckwagon
Breakfast contact the Mt. Hood Lions Club at 503-622-4111. Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Lodge director garners Travel Oregon award posted on 06/02/2018
To the uninitiated, it should be noted that Jon Tullis is
the director of public affairs at Timberline Lodge.
To those who have been keeping up on things, Tullis is also
a Forest Service liaison, special events coordinator, spokesman for the lodge,
governmental affairs manager, and an all-around advocate for the National
Historic Landmark Timberline Lodge for more than three decades, as the Oregon
Tourism Commission (aka: Travel Oregon), recently reminded us.
And April 30, at the 2018 Oregon Governor’s Conference on
Tourism in Bend, Tullis was presented with the Gene Leo Memorial Sustainable
Tourism Award for his outstanding contribution for a tourism-related activity
focused on Oregon’s natural beauty.
“This was extra special for me because the recognition came
from such a great group of people, my friends and colleagues in the tourism
industry. We’ve worked together for thirty years.” Tullis said. “This
particular award is also meaningful because I had the honor of working with
Gene Leo many years ago when Timberline’s Golden Rose Ski Classic was a part of
the Portland Rose Festival.”
The Gene Leo Award was established in 1994 to honor Leo’s
work and contributions to Oregon tourism as director of the Oregon Zoo,
Portland Rose Festival and the Portland Oregon Visitors Association.
Award recipients are outstanding professionals who
demonstrate perseverance and dedication to the state. “They go the extra mile,”
the commission wrote in a press release.
Tullis has also served on the Oregon Heritage Commission,
Ski Oregon, the Pacific Northwest Ski Area Association, Travel Oregon’s
Sustainable Tourism Advisory Council and is a member of the Outdoor Recreation
Initiative Leadership Team.
Fittingly, Tullis turned to the towering presence of Mount
Hood and the iconic lodge. “When all is said and done, I wouldn’t have gotten
this award if it weren’t for the crown jewel of the mountain – Timberline
Lodge.” Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Hoodland Library book sale aim to quench reading thirst posted on 06/02/2018
With warmer days arriving, the end of the school year in
sight and the start of vacation season rapidly approaching, summer reading
returns as an activity to enjoy whether soaking up sun at a beach destination
or keeping cool in the long, light-filled evenings.
For those in the Mount Hood region still searching for that
perfect page turner, the Friends of the Hoodland Library are conducting a book
sale June 22, 23, 29 and 30, at the Hoodland Library, located at 24525 East
Welches Road in Welches.
The sale will take place from noon to 4 p.m. daily in the
community room of the library, and all proceeds will benefit the library and
its community programming. All books available at the sale are donated by
members of the Friends of the Library.
“They’re a valuable resource for the library,” library
assistant Dianne Downey said, describing the organization’s fundraising
activities. “It’s basically how we base our programming.”
Proceeds from prior sales along with individual donations
have helped the library purchase a projector for the community room, a rug for
the children’s room and chairs for computer internet stations, as well as funding
children’s and adult programs.
Upcoming children’s programs include activities such as
summer reading, Lego building and an art program offered during the summer
months. Offerings for adults include beginner ukulele lessons, summer reading
and a wellness program conducted by a certified health coach.
The support of the Friends has also allowed the library to
previously host guest speakers, including regional authors Jane Kirkpatrick and
Brian Doyle. The library plans to continue to host speakers during the fall
months.
“The more funding they can provide, the more resources we
can provide the community,” Downey said, regarding the group’s support of the
library. She added that the library hopes to increase programming to reach more
of the public and address additional community interests.
Downey encourages the public to get involved and join the
organization, and that applications are available at the library and there is
no fee to join.
The book sale was previously a two-day sale. This year the
sale has been extended to two weekends in an attempt to include people that
could not attend due to scheduling. The sale will remain available during the
week to further increase public access.
For additional information regarding the book sale or
library programming contact the Hoodland Library at 503-622-3460 or visit the
library website at www.ci.sandy.or.us/hoodland-library. Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Public help sought in 2015 Trillium Lake homicide of Gresham man posted on 06/02/2018
A 2015 homicide at Trillium Lake remains unsolved.
On Sept. 24, 2015, Frank Wilson, 68, of Gresham, was found
dead in his vehicle in the parking lot of the Trillium Lake recreation area.
The Oregon State Medical Examiner determined that Wilson died of a gunshot
wound to the chest and ruled the death a homicide.
Investigators believe that Wilson was killed while sitting
in the driver’s seat of his pickup sometime on the evening of Sept. 23.
On Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, a group of bicyclists riding in
the area came across a white Ford F-150 pickup with the truck’s owner deceased
inside. The group immediately called 911.
Wilson was a longtime businessman who owned and operated
Clackamas Tire and Brake.
Investigators are seeking any information from the public to
help solve the case. Anyone who had contact with Wilson between Monday, Sept.
21, 2015 and Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 is encouraged to share that information
by contacting Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Detective Terway or leave a tip
via the Sheriff’s Office Tip Line, or the CrimeStoppers of Oregon Tip Line.
Investigators also believe that someone may have
inadvertently altered the crime scene prior to police arrival and would like to
hear from that person or persons.
Wilson was actively trying to not be located, according to
authorities. He had been engaging in behavior described as uncharacteristic and
distant.
CrimeStoppers of Oregon offers cash rewards of up to $2,500
for information reported to CrimeStoppers that leads to an arrest in any
unsolved homicide or other felony crime, and tipsters can remain anonymous.
Information learned from social media sites should be shared
as these tips may lead to the identification of a suspect. Those links can be
shared through CrimeStoppers.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line is
503-7232-4949 or online at web3.clackamas.us/contact/tip.jsp.
CrimeStoppers of Oregon’s anonymous tip line is
www.p3tips.com/823. Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Public help sought in 2015 Trillium Lake homicide of Gresham man posted on 06/02/2018
A 2015 homicide at Trillium Lake remains unsolved.
On Sept. 24, 2015, Frank Wilson, 68, of Gresham, was found
dead in his vehicle in the parking lot of the Trillium Lake recreation area.
The Oregon State Medical Examiner determined that Wilson died of a gunshot
wound to the chest and ruled the death a homicide.
Investigators believe that Wilson was killed while sitting
in the driver’s seat of his pickup sometime on the evening of Sept. 23.
On Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, a group of bicyclists riding in
the area came across a white Ford F-150 pickup with the truck’s owner deceased
inside. The group immediately called 911.
Wilson was a longtime businessman who owned and operated
Clackamas Tire and Brake.
Investigators are seeking any information from the public to
help solve the case. Anyone who had contact with Wilson between Monday, Sept.
21, 2015 and Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 is encouraged to share that information
by contacting Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Detective Terway or leave a tip
via the Sheriff’s Office Tip Line, or the CrimeStoppers of Oregon Tip Line.
Investigators also believe that someone may have
inadvertently altered the crime scene prior to police arrival and would like to
hear from that person or persons.
Wilson was actively trying to not be located, according to
authorities. He had been engaging in behavior described as uncharacteristic and
distant.
CrimeStoppers of Oregon offers cash rewards of up to $2,500
for information reported to CrimeStoppers that leads to an arrest in any
unsolved homicide or other felony crime, and tipsters can remain anonymous.
Information learned from social media sites should be shared
as these tips may lead to the identification of a suspect. Those links can be
shared through CrimeStoppers.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line is
503-7232-4949 or online at web3.clackamas.us/contact/tip.jsp.
CrimeStoppers of Oregon’s anonymous tip line is
www.p3tips.com/823. Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Party on the Patio returns at the Zigzag Inn posted on 06/02/2018
The annual Party on the Patio began after Randy Proctor
passed in 2006 as a way to honor his memory.
First held as a fundraiser for Relay for Life, the event
shifted gears to benefit Mt. Hood Hospice, and since the beginning, Party on
the Patio has raised more than $220,000 for the two organizations, according to
Cathy Stuchlik, Proctor’s sister and President of Clackamas County Bank.
The event, which raised $22,304 last year, features live
music by The Substitutes, a silent auction and drawing from 5-10 p.m. Saturday,
June 30, at the Zigzag Inn, 70162 E. Hwy. 26. Tickets are $10 for adults and
children 12 and under are free, and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn
chairs.
Auction items will include original artwork, garden art and
lodging gift certificates, while the raffle winner will receive a Green
Mountain smoker grill and a $500 gift certificate to White’s Country Meats.
Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20, and no need to be present to win.
Stuchlik noted that she sees so many of the same people
coming back each year, while also adding that people share stories about her
brother.
“We have fun,” she said. “Every year it just gets better.” Garth Guibord/MT |
|  A biker at Deer Valley Resort
The
Timberline Bike Park lawsuit, brought by several environmental groups in 2012,
has been dismissed and lift-assisted mountain biking has gained traction.
“Timberline
is very pleased with the Court’s decision and is excited to move forward,” said
Steve Kruse, general
manager of mountain operations at Timberline. “This ruling (U.S. District
Court) confirms the U.S.
Forest Service evaluation and approval of a bike park at Timberline meets Mt.
Hood National Forest Plan
objectives and falls within our permit parameters. This is a good, environmentally
sound project.”
Not
everyone agreed. Plaintiffs against the bike park included Sierra Club, Friends
of Mount Hood, BARK, Mazamas,
Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs and the Northwest Environmental Defense
Center, as reported
in The Mountain Times in 2012. The group’s legal team of Craig Law Center said
at the time “Our clients care deeply about Mount Hood and the unique portal to
public land on the mountain’s southern flanks that Timberline provides.”
In
the court’s ruling on March 31, District Court Judge Ann Aiken’s findings
concluded that the U.S. Forest Service
has followed all applicable federal environmental laws. In her opinion, the
complaints and suits filed
by the Portland-based nonprofit groups failed to raise substantive objections
to the project on either ecological
or procedural grounds.
The
decision authorizes the development of a managed, lift assisted, downhill-only
mountain bike trail system and skills park within the southern portion of the
Timberline ski area permit boundary. The trail system includes 17 miles of trail
and will be located within the terrain serviced by the Jeff Flood express lift.
“Timberline is the people’s choice,” Kruse wrote
in a press release. “As stewards of Mt. Hood, Timberline remains committed to
providing quality public recreation within the capabilities of the ecosystem.
The Mt. Hood National Forest Plan objectives include managing ski areas to
provide a diversity of winter and summer recreation activities that emphasize
the forest setting. Considering this and the strong growth and popularity of
mountain biking, Timberline remains committed to this modest and carefully designed
project to bring high quality, lift assisted mountain biking to Mt. Hood as an
additional summer activity.
George
Wilson, who recently opened his full-service Mt. Hood Bicycle shop in Welches, sees
the Timberline project as another positive step forward in the burgeoning
business of mountain biking and the opportunities it provides the local community.
“Timberline
Lodge, with its skills park, will draw consistent cycling traffic from as far as
Seattle,” he said. “We have always endorsed the efforts of Timberline Lodge to
develop a mountain skills park and have congratulated
them for their patience and perseverance in bringing this project to fruition.”
Wilson
added, “Get ready Mt. Hood. The cyclists are coming. Ride on and stay strong.”
Gravity
Logic, a world leader in sustainable bike park planning and design, has been working
with Timberline since the project’s inception and will continue to play an
important advisory role.
Construction
is set for this summer and will include a skills park, trail system, natural features,
built features and jump lines, plus a full-service bike shop for repairs,
rental and sales, as well as existing Timberline
food and beverage concessions.
“If
you’re half as excited as we are, you’ve already jumped out of your chair and
onto your bike,” Director of Marketing and Public Relations John Burton said. “We
have diligently been working towards the Timberline Bike Park project and look forward
to bringing it to Mount Hood soon.”
Larry
Berteau/MT |
| May primary election to set stage for November posted on 05/07/2018
This
month’s primary election will set the stage for November’s general election as
voters will determine who will move on to represent each party on the ballot.
But
one race in Clackamas County could be determined this month if the winner receives
50 percent plus one in the vote.
Three
candidates vie for Position 2 for the Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners
(BCC), and if one does receive the 50 percent plus one, that person will be
elected and no further vote necessary. If no one receives 50 percent plus one,
the top two vote getters will move on to the November ballot.
Candidates
for Position 2 on the BCC include Louise Lopes, a home-based business owner and
former Clackamas County
Parks Advisory Board member; incumbent Paul Savas, a small business owner; and
Peter Winter, a construction project manager with no prior government experience.
There
are also three candidates for County Clerk, including incumbent Sherry Hall,
who has held the position since
2003; Sherry Healy, a small business owner and current chair of the Election
Integrity Caucus; and Pamela White,
a development and communications director who has served as a school board
member. In this race, if a candidate receives 50 percent plus one, that
candidate will move on as the only one listed in November, while the top two
vote getters will move on if nobody surpasses 50 percent plus one.
Sonya
Fischer was the only candidate to file for Position 5 on the BCC, while Brian
T. Nava is the only candidate for County Treasurer. A potential race within the
Democrat party for the Oregon House District 52 (HD52) nomination lost a
candidate when Aurora del Val announced on Wednesday, April 11 on a Facebook page
that she will support her opponent, Anna K. Williams, and asked her supporters to
do the same. del Val cited concerns about fundraising in the message, while
adding she had no regrets about running in the race.
“Flipping
the district is most important to me, and in these past several months, I
learned that Anna and I share the same values and sensibilities for our region
and Oregon,” del Val wrote. “She understands that we need to bridge divides and
focus on the common good.”
However,
del Val will still appear on the ballot, as the deadline for candidates to
withdraw from the primary election was March 9.
As
the presumed winner, Williams would take on Jeff Helfrich in the November
election, as he will run unopposed this
May as the Republican candidate.
Helfrich
was appointed to the position last November. Both the Democrat and Republican candidates
for the State
Senate District 26 (SD26), Chrissy Reitz and incumbent Chuck Thomsen,
respectively, will run unopposed in the May primary. No Independent Party candidates
filed for the HD52 or SD26 positions.
The
Democratic Party of Oregon and Oregon Republican Party primaries will be
limited to voters registered with their party, while the Independent Party of
Oregon primary is open to voters who are not members of any party for the May
2018 election.
Candidates Forum info:
The
Hoodland Area Candidates Forum will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 5, in the Trees
Room at The Resort at The
Mountain. The forum will be moderated by Mr. John Erickson, CEO of JAE
Consulting & Recruiting. Mr Erickson is also Chairman of the Board for the
Tourism Development Council of Clackamas County and a previous General Manager for
The Resort at The Mountain.
Election Deadline:
8 p.m. Tuesday, May 15: To find an official drop site, or for other
questions, call the Clackamas County Elections Division at 503-655-8510. Garth Guibord/MT |
|  New Logo
The
Resort at the Mountain, the upscale golf and spa resort in Welches, will be
renamed the Mount Hood Oregon Resort
June 1. “The first thing people ask about the resort at trade shows is, ‘What
mountain?’” the resort’s general manager Tami Kay Galvin said, explaining
ownership’s desire to rebrand the property in a manner that clarified the
location.
Galvin
noted that they hoped by linking the resort to the beauty of the of visitors would
journey to enjoy the facilities.
“We’ve
had people come up and tell us, ‘We’ve been skiing for 20 years and didn’t even
know you were here,’” said Jenny Kunzman, resort catering manager. “We’re
really trying to increase tourism in the area.”
Kunzman
cited the growing number of resorts on other mountains in the region,
especially in Bend, as further cause
for linking the resort directly to its Mount Hood locale. The resort is
currently owned by Stanford Oregon Hotel LLC. Stanford purchased the resort in January
2016.
The
Stanford Hotel group has holdings in Oregon, New York, New Jersey and Asia.
The
name change was planned for April 1 but was rescheduled to provide more time to
change signage and produce new nametags and uniforms. The website has not currently
been updated to reflect the impending name change.
The
property has undergone several name changes and owners since 1883, when Samuel
Welch and his son Billy opened the first resort on the location, a campground for
travelers and vacationers.
Over
the years, the site has been known as Old Welches Inn Bed & Breakfast,
Bowman’s Resort and the Rippling River
Resort.
In 1928, Mt
Hood Golf Course was opened as Oregon's first golf resort across from the
original bed-and-breakfast. Ed and
Janice Hopper bought the resort in 1989 and gave it the current title, The
Resort at The Mountain. This iteration has seen four owners since the Hoppers
sold the property in 2007.
Current
ownership is planning an open house Thursday, June 14 at Mallards Pub at the
resort to celebrate the launch of the new name. Benjamin Simpson/MT |
|  Johnson
Former
HD 52 State Representative Mark Johnson, having been asked to step down from
the post he acquired last October as chief executive officer of Oregon Business
and Industry (OBI), has resigned from
the lobbying group amid allegations of racially insensitive remarks he directed
at a former colleague in
the Legislature. Johnson, a Hood River Republican, left the Oregon House to
take the OBI job after serving from 2011 to 2017.
The
allegation stemmed from a former employee of the lobbying firm OBI, Joel Fischer,
who told The Oregonian that Johnson had referred to Portland Democrat State
Representative Diego Hernandez, “and his chain migration homeboys from the hood.”
The
Oregonian broke the story in April after having it corroborated by two other
OBI employees present during the remarks.
“It
is shocking (to) be accused of insensitivity on equity I care about,” Johnson
told The Oregonian. “I apologize to Rep. Diego Hernandez for any insensitive
comments I may have made.”
Johnson
went further in a statement to The Mountain Times.
“I
have no recollection of making the alleged comments,” Johnson said. “I don’t
know the context or the setting where they allegedly occurred. The quote as it
has appeared in the media does not reflect how I typically talk or words that I
routinely use.”
In
his defense, Johnson pointed to his public service in support of the Hispanic community,
citing his work on
controversial measures like tuition equity which allows undocumented students
to be able to access post-secondary education by paying in-state tuition rather
than out-of-state tuition, plus supporting undocumented
residents to obtain drivers cards so they could buy insurance and obtain a
driver’s license.
“The
comments are attributed to me by a former employee (of OBI) and two unnamed
sources,” Johnson said.
“The story originated in a complaint brought by the former employee. I think
that is all clear in The Oregonian story. The (OBI) board had subsequently
completed an investigation with current staff and did not find evidence to
substantiate the claims … But I have no recollection of having made them.
“It’s
been a real shocker for me and my family.”
Due
to the situation, Johnson has also resigned from the Hood River School Board.
The
OBI board learned of Johnson’s comments at its April 10 meeting and reached a
unanimous decision to ask for Johnson’s resignation, according to OBI Chairman
Scott Parrish. Larry Berteau/MT |
|  A banner created by students at the Welches Schools
When
the Welches Schools held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Week during the third
week of April, the numbers were already impressive. Fifty-two volunteers who log
into a computer system set up to track their time had tallied 1,974 hours of
work since the beginning of the school year, and the volunteer with the most
hours logging 420 hours.
No
doubt there was an abundance of appreciation. “It’s just a time for all of us
to remember all the help we get from the outside community and give our thanks to
those dedicated volunteers,” said Kendra Payne, principal of the Welches
Schools. The week features a variety of ways the school offers up its thanks,
including decorations, thank you notes and banners created by students, treat
bags and culminating in a pot luck lunch on Friday, April 20.
“There’s
usually a pretty good spread,” Payne said, noting that the school counts some talented
cooks throughout the staff.
The
volunteers perform a variety of roles at the school throughout the year, from going
on field trips to helping in
the classroom, but Payne noted that there are other volunteers that aren’t even
included in the tracking system.
They
include members of the Hoodland Women’s Club, who come in every month to help
with a popcorn party for the
class with the best attendance, and the hours that the Welches Parent Teacher
Community Organization puts in outside
of normal school hours.
“We’ve
always had a really very supportive community in terms of volunteering and fundraising
support,” Payne said.
“I do feel like we’ve seen an uptick in volunteerism. I think part of that is
due to we have some really strong parent volunteer coordinators.” Payne noted
that in the past three years the school moved to an online volunteer system, eliminating
a paper packet prospective volunteers needed to fill out and reducing the time for
background checks from two weeks to approximately two days.
Meanwhile,
volunteer coordinators for the middle and elementary schools help match skills
that volunteers can offer with needs at the school and communicate upcoming needs.
“It’s really helped kind of streamline the system,” Payne said. Community members interested in
volunteering can find more information and the volunteer application on the Oregon
Trail School District’s website, at www.http://oregontrailschools. com/parents/forms/. By Garth Guibord/MT |
|  The Philadelphia
Sandy
High School (SHS) senior Arianna Cioffi has been involved with the school’s
theatrical productions since her
freshman year, including jumping into the role of Caliban in William
Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” with just two weeks of rehearsal time. And while
Shakespeare may seem like a different language, Cioffi has a role in the
upcoming SHS production that gives Shakespeare a run for his money.
Cioffi
is Don in “The Universal Language,” one of six one-act plays written by David
Ives, collectively called, “All
In the Timing.” In “The Universal
Language,” Don is the creator and teacher of Unamunda, a wild comic language.
“It’s
really confusing because you’ve got all kinds of words in here,” said Cioffi , 18.
“It’s kind of like gibberish. The audience has no idea what he’s saying.”
“This is a lot different than Shakespeare,”
she added, noting how much she has to use her face, hands and body to help
communicate in Unamunda. Cioffi also plays the role of the waitress in “The
Philadelphia,” alongside junior Harley
Reed, 17. In it, Reed plays Allen Chase, a laidback New Yorker who meets up
with his friend who has fallen
into "a Philadelphia," a Twilight Zone-like state in which he cannot
get anything he asks for.
This
is Reed’s first production at SHS after taking some classes, and he noted that
the stage experience is different than
the classroom one because there isn’t as much time to ramp up to the demands of
the play.
“It’s
kind of challenging,” said Reed, who also plays the baker in “Philip Glass Buys
a Loaf of Bread.” “This is what it feels like when you rehearse, you have to be
on top of it.”
Junior
Peyton Noreen, 17, plays the role of
Swift in the play “Words, Words, Words,” about three monkeys writing
on typewriters until they come up with “Hamlet.” Noreen noted that while each one act is very
different, the collection
of plays does have a common thread.
“The
theme for a show is definitely human interaction, just different scenarios that
seem crazy or outlandish,” she said. “The idea of realism comes from
unrealism.” Sandy High School Drama presents “All In the Timing,” by David
Ives, at 7:30 p.m. May 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19, at 37400 SE Bell Street in Sandy.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens. For more information,
call 503-668-8011, ext. 7313.
“The Nerd” comes to Boring
Justin
Lazenby, director of the Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company’s production of Larry
Shue’s “The Nerd,” notes that audience members are likely going to relate with the
comedy’s main character, Willum Cubbert. Cubbert is an aspiring architect and
veteran who gets the chance to meet the man who saved his life in Vietnam.
Unfortunately, that
man turns out to be tactless and obnoxious.“In the horrible house guest, (the
audience) will see aspects of a person that they met at some point in their
life that they had to deal with,” said Lazenby, who will also play the role
of Warnock Waldgrave, Cubbert’s boss who is over for dinner when the nerd
arrives and starts to mess things up.
“(It’s)
probably not as bad as they will see on stage, but everybody can relate to it. We
find ourselves in a position where
we can’t just tell them off, we can’t just shout at them.”
Lazenby,
who has performed in the show previously, described it as a “good, solid belly
laugh comedy” as the audience
gets to watch Cubbert squirm and try to get out of the mess.
“You
walk away smiling,” he said.
NNB
presents “The Nerd,” by Larry Shue, from May 18 to June 3 at the Boring Grange,
27861 Grange Street in Boring. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and
Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for children, seniors
and students and $11 for teachers and law enforcement. For more information, or
to make reservations, call 503-593-1295
or visit nnbtheater.com. Garth Guibord/MT |
| All in the family posted on 05/07/2018
When Kevin
Franks first became a volunteer firefighter with the Hoodland Fire District (HFD), his
son Jonathan kept a keen eye on his father. Kevin would get a call on his pager
and head out, while Jonathan ran to the iPad to follow along with the call on an
app.
The elder
Franks, who was inspired to become a firefighter after seeing how helpful the
firefighters were when responding to calls regarding his ailing father, has won
the HFD’s Firefighter of the Year Award, Above and Beyond Award and a top
responder since he completed the volunteer academy in 2013.
And now
the younger Franks, who was inspired by his father’s entry into firefighting, has
followed in his footsteps, as part of HFD’s 2018 academy. “I wish that I had
the focus that he does,” Kevin said.
“I still
don’t know what I want to do when I grow up,” he added as a joke. Jonathan
started his journey to become a firefighter in the district’s Explorers
Program, and by helping his dad clean the Brightwood station, participating in
joint training exercises between the volunteers and the explorers, working on “burn
to learn” events and when Jonathan could go on certain calls as an observer, including
with his dad.
“It’s
really awesome to see him working, and I get to learn a lot from him,” said Jonathan,
17. Jonathan will also graduate from Sandy High School this summer and then
join the Jefferson
County fire student program.
The
Explorer Program is open to young people from sixth grade through high school, offering
an entry point for those interested in firefighting. HFD Battalion Chief Linn Norgard
serves as the Explorers Guide and noted that while the program limits some of
what the students can do, they get to learn most of what firefighters learn,
with a focus on support. “I’ve lost count how many of our explorers have gone
on to be firefighters,” Norgard said,
adding that two current members of the paid staff, Evan Jarvis and Tyler Myers, started in
the Explorers Program.
Norgard
noted that Jonathan stood out due to “his willingness to do just about anything.”
Jonathan
added that the shift from Explorers to the volunteer training academy means
more heavy lifting, using more tools and expanding the range of skills. “It’s
been a pretty big leap,” he said.
Kevin
noted that aspects of the volunteer academy has changed even in the few years since
he was a part of it, with new and better techniques for things like advancing hoses
and forcing entry into a building.
“The
department has really embraced that,” he said, adding that those recruits who
were also part of the Explorers Program had a “leg up.”
Meanwhile,
Kevin’s wife, Krista, also contributes to the district as a member of the
support group. “I think once you get involved, it’s a family thing,” Kevin
said. “No matter how much you
put into this, you always get much more out of it. It’s our community, it’s our neighborhood.” Garth Guibord/MT |
| Final Four - Rhody logo contest posted on 05/07/2018
A
contest to select a logo for the community of Rhododendron is down to a final
four following a meeting by the “Matrix Committee,” comprised of the
Rhododendron Community Planning Organization’s (CPO) Rhody Rising subcommittee,
Will Frank of the Clackamas County Arts Alliance and local artist Sue Allen.
The group met on Monday, April 23 to narrow down a field of six that had been
selected out of 45 initial logo entries.
“We’ve
got four great logos,” said Steve Graeper, Rhododendron CPO president. “I am tickled
at the diversity of the designs.”
The Matrix, a scorecard where committee members assigned points in three
categories for each of the six entries,
was utilized to expand thinking and focus attention beyond a popular vote to
determine the four entries that would
move on to the final selection, to be held at the CPO’s Saturday, May 19
meeting at The Resort at The Mountain, starting at 10:30 a.m. The three
categories covered ease of production (how the design would work for both large
and small-scale uses), cost of reproduction (potential expenses associated with
reproducing the image) and
visual acuity (how the design represents the vision of the Rhododendron
community). A fourth category included
a score reflecting the popular vote by the CPO’s members.
The
CPO had initially planned to select three entries for the final decision, but a
tie for the third-place logo resulted in
the selection of four designs. The four artists behind the logos, Mark
Schumaker, Cheryl Budd, Laurie Crabb and
Renee Lamoreaux, all of whom hail from the mountain community.
“They’re
all distinctly different,” Allen said about the final logos. The four designs
will be on display in various locations, including at the Rhododendron Post
Office, through social media and in the Mountain Times prior to the meeting on
May 19. Members of the CPO, comprised of residents, property owners and
business owners within the CPO's boundaries, will determine through a popular
vote which logo is the winner. The winning selection may also go on through
some final changes, such as adjusting colors or adding a notation for the
starting year of the Rhododendron community.
The
winning entry will win a prize package that will include: $500, golf and a cart
for two at The Resort At The Mountain, two lift certificates at Skibowl, a gift
certificate to Skyway Bar & Grill and cross-country ski rental from Otto's
Ski Shop in Sandy. Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Six possible logos.
Steve Graeper, President of the Rhododendron Community
Planning Organization (CPO), would have been pleased with 10 submissions for
the group’s logo contest. So when 45 entries came in for the Saturday, March 17
meeting where the top six were selected by the CPO’s membership, Graeper was
enthused, to say the least.
“We are blown away by the number of entries we received,”
Graeper said.
The CPO plans to use the winning logo on a potential
community gateway sign, as well as t-shirts, hoodies, hats and other
merchandise as part of the fundraising for its Rhody Rising effort, a plan to
revitalize the community of Rhododendron.
A total of 78 votes were cast by the 28 CPO members in
attendance (each member received three tickets to vote with), according to
Graeper. The top five were to be selected to move on to the next round, but a
tie for fifth place lead to a sixth potential logo to move on.
Graper did not release vote totals, but the artists behind
the six entries were Haley Montana, Mark Schumaker, Cheryl Budd, Laurie Crabb
and Renee Lamoreaux, who had two designs selected.
David Lythgoe was impressed with the talent on display and
noted that making his selections was tough.
“I think they’re amazing,” he said, noting that he was drawn
to one that shared elements with a logo used by Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory,
which would be good for hats and shirts. “I’ve always liked that look. And
there’s one over here that had that.”
Rod Brewick noted that many of the designs were very
representative of Rhododendron, including images of the namesake flower and
Mount Hood, while he liked the images that included a frontier element in them.
“I’m just kind of anxious to see which one becomes the
logo,” he said. “Hopefully it's one of the ones I voted on.”
The six designs will now move on to the CPO’s “Decision
Making Matrix,” a scorecard filled out by the group’s Rhody Rising subcommittee
and two members of the Clackamas County Arts Alliance. The scorecard, used to
“expand thinking beyond a simple popular vote,” ranks each finalist from one to
six in four categories: popularity, ease of production, cost of reproduction
and visual acuity.
Scores from each member will be added together and the top
three will appear at the Rhododendron Post Office and in the Mountain Times
before a final vote at the CPO’s May meeting.
The winning entry will win a prize package that will
include: golf and cart for two at The Resort at The Mountain, two lift tickets
at SkiBowl, a gift certificate to Skyway Bar & Grill and Cross Country Ski
Rental from Otto’s Ski Shop in Sandy.Winning prizes include: 18 holes of golf
and11 cart from The Resort at the Mountain; $25 gift certificate from the
Skyway Bar & Grill; cross country/snowboard/or snowshoe rental from Otto’s
in Sandy; and lift tickets for two for tubing or skiing at Skibowl.
The winner will also receive a $500 cash prize, and Graeper
noted at the meeting that this part of the prize would be funded by donations
and an anonymous $250 matching donation, but no money had come in to be
matched. That’s when Mike Budd, owner of the Mt. Hood Cannabis Co., stepped up
and pitched in $250 to make the prize whole.
“I want to support my community,” Budd said. “I’m here to
see all this move forward.”
The May CPO meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May
19, at The Resort at The Mountain, 68010 Fairway Ave. in Welches.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Salmon Valley Water awaits PUC decision on sale to PDX co. posted on 04/01/2018
The Salmon Valley Water Company is being sold to Northwest
Natural Gas Company’s wholly owned subsidiary NW Natural Water Company, of
Portland, according to a customer notice published March 5, 2018.
The companies entered into the transaction Dec. 18, 2017,
and the transaction will close and the sale will be effective following
regulatory approval by the Public Utility Commission of Oregon, no sooner than
60 days from the date of this notice (May 5, 2018).
Salmon Valley is selling to NW Natural Water as the owner
believes it is in the best interest of the community, its customers and its
stockholder.
“The entire company will be sold … and will continue to
exist as Salmon Valley after the sale, with the same employees, billing
platform, and customer service representatives,” it was written in the customer
notice release. “NW Natural Water and Salmon Valley expect that the transaction
will be seamless, and customers will not be harmed by the transaction.”
Salmon Valley’s district north border is the Salmon River
east of Farragut St. and just north of Hwy. 26 west of Farragut. The eastern
border is Mt. Hood National Forest boundary to Salmon River Road and the “Y” of
Welches Road. The southern border is the Salmon River and the approximate
western border is the west side of Arrah Wanna Blvd.
At present, water provided by Salmon Valley (SVWC) is only
subject to two forms of treatment:
AquaMag which is a blended phosphate solution that is added
to the water to keep any iron in the water in solution. This helps to prevent
scaling in the pipes of both the customers and SVWC. AquaMag is only added to
the system during the summer months when SVWC has to bring its fourth well into
production to meet summer demands. That well (Routledge Road well) has an iron
concentration of up to 2.2 parts per million, and
sodium based bleach when repairs are made to the water
system to ensure that nothing enters the system during the repairs. The bleach
is added to sanitize the system.
For more information about the filing or to follow the
regulatory process of the commission’s review check the commission’s website at
www.puc.state.or.us.
Salmon Valley Water Company contact information is Attn:
Michael Bowman, PO Box 205, Welches 97067, 505-622-4083 or email
thesvwco@frontier.com.
NW Natural Gas contact information: Melissa Moore, 220 NW
Second Avenue, Portland 97209, 503-226-4211, or email
Melissa.Moore@nwnatural.com. By Larry Berteau/MT
|
|  Kohler and Comanche.
In the shadow of Mount Hood, Boring resident Sarah Kohler
recently put her wild mustang Comanche through his paces at Milo McIver State
Park in preparation for the 2018 Mustang Adoption Challenge.
“I’ve had animals around my whole life, and I love taking an
animal that needs training, that needs help … and fixing them up and seeing
them go where people can enjoy them,” Sarah said, describing her involvement in
the program.
As part of the challenge Sarah had 98 days to train and
gentle the four-year-old mustang (less
than 60 days out of the wild) before showcasing her horsemanship skills at the
Northwest Horse Fair and Expo, held March 22-25 in Albany. A live horse auction
followed the award ceremony and placed the trained animals in adoptive homes.
Sarah, a 23-year old criminal justice major at Mt. Hood
Community College is studying to become a police officer. She takes time from
her busy schedule to spend one to two hours daily training her horses for
competition.
“You have to want to do this ... there’s a lot of time and
effort,” Sarah said about the training process.
She previously worked as a trainer on the Warm Springs
Indian Reservation and volunteers as a trainer for Oregon Animal Rescue, a
nonprofit organization based in Boring.
Sarah first started riding horses around the age of three
and was exposed to horse training by her mother. Her mother encouraged her to
enter her first competition at the age of 17.
This year is her third time entering in the competition,
which was founded by the Teens and Oregon Mustangs organization in 2009. She
participated twice as a teenager in 2010 and 2013, and came in first place at
the 2016 Washington Mustang Madness.
Teens and Oregon Mustangs co-founder Erica Fitzgerald
described the program’s goals of fostering the trainer’s growth in
horsemanship, facilitating adoption of the heavily overpopulated wild mustangs
and allowing the public access to the gentled horses.
“We try to give the general public a chance to own a piece
of American history,” she said.
Sarah does an “outstanding job representing our program,”
Erica added, describing Sarah’s efforts preparing the horses for adoption by
training them to be handled by the public.
“350 horses later we’ve made a tiny dent,” said Fitzgerald,
noting the program’s 100 percent adoption record.
40 horses were auctioned off as a result of the
organization’s efforts this year.
The trainers and horses compete and are scored in four
categories; body conditioning, showmanship, in-hand trail and riding. Trainers
are assigned horses randomly at the beginning of the competition.
“I was lucky to get a pretty one; that helps,” Sarah
laughed, describing the 15.2 hand, red dun mustang gelding she named Comanche
in recognition of the horse that was the sole surviving member of the U.S
Calvary after the Battle of the Little Bighorn. “He’s got a kind heart, a lot
of personality and I really enjoy working with him,” she added.
Sarah and Comanche placed third in the body conditioning
portion of the competition and third in the showmanship category. Overall, they
came in fourth place in their division in the 2018 Mustang Adoption Challenge.
Comanche was auctioned off for $5,400 and was the second highest bidding horse
in the competition.
“Comanche did great, everybody loved him,” Sarah said after
the event. “He got an awesome home; that’s the ultimate goal.”
Sarah plans on continuing to compete in the wild mustang
training challenges. She is heading to Burns in April to pick up two horses to
train for the 2018 Washington Mustang Madness in July. She is also
participating in the Oregon Rescue Challenge, June 29-30, in Powell Butte to
aid in the adoption of abused and neglected horses.
She plans on taking the next two mustangs to Welches and the
surrounding region to train once the weather permits.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Court rules in favor of Feds in Hwy. 26 lawsuit posted on 04/01/2018
A decade ago, the Federal Highway Administration bulldozed a
path through sacred Native American sites along Hwy. 26 in the Mountain
community.
The project was defined as a widening of the highway.
A stone altar, campground, medicinal plants used for religious
rituals and ancient burial grounds were destroyed along the way. Members of the
Cascade and Klickitat tribes in Oregon alerted officials to the sacred nature
of the sites, but the government paid no attention.
Last month, a federal judge ruled that the government is
free to bulldoze sacred Native American burial grounds and destroy sacred
artifacts, according to the Becket law firm which is representing the tribes.
“For centuries Native Americans have endured the destruction
of sacred places by the federal government and it’s heartbreaking that the
court would say this completely preventable destruction was okay,” said Carol
Logan, member of the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde. “All we want is the
return of our artifacts, the rededication of the area for our ancestors, and
the promise that we can continue to worship as our tribes have done for
centuries.”
The court’s ruling in Slockish v. U.S. Federal Highway
Administration cites the religious freedom rights of Native Americans cannot be
used to protect their artifacts and sacred sites.
Tribal members were seeking justice under the Religious
Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. But the magistrate judge’s opinion stated
“Even where the government’s actions would virtually destroy a group’s ability
to practice their religion the Constitution simply does not provide a principle
that could justify upholding (their) legal claims.”
“The federal government has repeatedly shown a callous
disregard for Native American religious beliefs,” said Stephanie Barclay,
counsel for the non-profit, public-interest law firm of Becket. “For these
tribes, this burial ground was their church. Our religious freedom laws
wouldn’t allow the government to destroy other churches with impunity, and it shouldn’t
be any different for Native Americans.”
Plaintiffs in the case are Wilbur Slockish and Johnny
Jackson, hereditary chiefs of the Klickitat and Cascade tribes, and Carol Logan
is an enrolled member of the Grand Ronde tribe.
They are joined in the lawsuit by Cascade Geographic Society
and the Mount Hood Sacred Lands Preservation Alliance.
Tribal members plan to appeal the ruling. By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Red Cross steps in after Mt. Hood Village fire posted on 04/01/2018
Through the light snow, the homey scent of wood fire drifts
from metal chimneys protruding from manufactured homes in a quiet community in
Welches. The comforting aroma belies the risk of fire, and on March 5 a wood
stove caused a home fire that left two adults and six children in need of Red
Cross disaster assistance.
The Hoodland Fire Department received the call for the fire
at approximately 10:30 a.m. March 5. The fire occurred in a manufactured home
in the Hood Course Acres mobile home park in the 25200 block of East Welches
Road in Mt. Hood Village.
A representative for the fire department reported that the
fire was caused by a wood stove that was installed without proper clearance.
The fire caused damage to an exterior wall and damaged electrical wiring that
had to be removed from the dwelling.
Lieutenant Phil Burks of the Hoodland Fire Department
described the incidence as a minor fire. He stated the lack of power left the
mobile home temporarily uninhabitable.
“It probably cost more in the long run,” said Lieutenant
Eric Macy of the Hoodland Fire Department, referencing the improperly installed
wood stove. He cited the costs of displacing the family and the damage to the
property.
The Red Cross responded to the home fire disaster and helped
eight people impacted by the fire address immediate needs, such as temporary shelter,
food, clothing and health and mental health services.
A Red Cross representative, Amelia Holmes, explained that
the Red Cross in Oregon and Southwest Washington (the Cascades Region) helps an
average of three families affected by disasters every day.
The Red Cross works to connect victims of home fire
disasters with local aid providers, such as Goodwill for clothing, and regional
health care providers for health and mental health services.
“It’s not just that we respond… we try to make sure people
are prepared,” Holmes added, referencing the Home Fire Campaign, the
preparedness side of Red Cross Disaster Cycle Services.
Residents throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington can get
free smoke alarms installed in their home year-round by contacting the Red
Cross at 503-528-5283, making an appointment at
www.redcross.org/CascadesHomeFire, or emailing preparedness@redcross.org.
Hoodland Fire responded to six building fires in 2017, and
10 chimney or flue fires that remained confined to the chimney during the same
year. Fires accounted for 3.78 percent of the incidences the department
responded to during the last calendar year. By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
|  Molly Izer.
The conditions were stormy and the competition fierce last
month in the Oregon Interscholastic Ski Racing Association (OISRA) finals at
Mount Bachelor.
The Sandy High boys and girls ski teams, having placed
second and third respectively in Mt. Hood League competition, took on the
state’s best and were rewarded with a combined ninth place finish by the boys,
and 15th for the girls in a field of more than 100 racers.
SHS head coach Josh Kanable, and assistant coaches Alex
Kanable and Quency Fahlgren, emphasize balancing the competitive nature of ski
racing with the ultimate goal of creating lasting community.
“There is something truly beautiful about sharing a
chairlift ride with a friend,” Josh Kanable said. “The connections that
athletes create on those cold snowy nights help to shape the community of our
mountain. Skiing should not be a selfish experience. It is meant to be shared.”
The boys team was paced by junior London Madrid who finished
25th combined (slalom and giant slalom) overall, having skied to 25th in the
slalom and 24th in the giant slalom. Freshman Alex Rogers issued warnings of
things to come by capturing 36th combined after posting 33rd in the slalom and
55th in the giant slalom.
Junior Gabe Smith was the boys top finisher with a 16th
place in the grand slalom but suffered a DQ in the slalom.
On the distaff side, the graduation of three seniors proved
less of a loss with the strong performances of freshmen Mikayla Wood and Molly
Izer.
“Both of these young ladies have made incredible
improvements despite the challenging snow year we have had,” Kanable said.
“Many people assume that a racing background is a prerequisite to joining the
Sandy ski team, but all we need are athletes who are committed to improvement.
Time on snow seems to do the rest.”
Izer finished 36th in the slalom and 79th in the grand
slalom, for a combined overall of 46th out of 97 hopefuls. Wood was an
alternate in the slalom and placed 82nd in the GS. Julia Engler placed 49th
overall with 53rd in slalom and 72nd in GS. Sacheen Lampert nabbed 54th place
overall with 58th in slalom and 81st in GS.
Leagues across the state include the local Mt. Hood League,
Blue Mountain League in eastern Oregon, Three Rivers and Metro Leagues around
Portland, and the Southern Oregon League around Mount Ashland. By Larry Berteau/MT
|
|  Thermal imaging photo.
Hoodland Fire District (HFD) Battalion Chief Pat McAbery
offered an example of when a drone helped a public agency at the top of his
head: the Bureau of Land Management had a fire running toward a station last
year and used a drone to spot when the fire jumped a road, helping them stop it
before losing any infrastructure. And in the HFD, the possibilities are also
easy to identify: aerial reconnaissance of fires, floods, trail rescues,
hazardous materials incidents and more; offering real time information
performed with safety in mind.
And now, thanks to a donation from FLIR International, the
district has a multi-role drone with infrared state-of-the-art technology and
three thermal imaging cameras at its disposal.
“It is a growing trend in the industry,” McAbery said,
adding that there are likely a number of scenarios where a drone will be useful
that he can’t even think of now. “It’s an amazingly capable machine.”
McAbery is a certified commercial drone pilot by the Federal
Aviation Administration and noted the district is hoping to train up to five
members, both career staff and volunteers, to be operators. The drone pilots will
need training in numerous areas, including being able to read charts on
airspace (although there is no airspace restrictions in the district, there
could be when firefighters are deployed to incidents outside the district) and
getting familiar with the controls, as directing a drone left or right would
depend on its orientation in relation to the operator.
The drone is an Inspire 1, a mid-sized one made by DJI, with
the camera donated by FLIR. The drone is also set up to be dual operated, with
one pilot and another firefighter able to run the camera.
“If this proves to be really good for us, the new ones have
sensors so they don’t run into things, get signals that an airplane is coming
by,” McAbery said, adding that the district purchased a couple of inexpensive
drones for people to train on.
McAbery noted that when operating the drone, it needs to be
in the pilot’s line of sight the entire time and cannot exceed 400 feet in
altitude.
“It’s a short distance thing,” he said. “We will come to a
scene, take it out of its box and operate it from there.”
“I think these are incredible assets to our communities and
keeps Hoodland Fire on the cutting edge of public safety,” added HFD Chief John
Ingrao in an email to the Mountain Times. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Aurora del Val
“I’ve watched with dismay as President Trump has exacerbated
racial tensions and fueled anti-immigrant sentiment, and I believe that Oregon
has the chance to make clear that we will not fall for the politics of division
and fear,” Aurora del Val explained in a press release announcing her candidacy
for state representative in House District 52 – which includes the Hoodland
community.
“Now is not the time for sitting on the sidelines,” she
added. “I am running … to stand up and take the most active part I can in our
democracy. I value justice for all. I value decency. I trust that Oregon voters
do as well.”
The Cascade Locks resident first dipped her toes into
political pools in 2016 when she led the bipartisan campaign to protect water
supplies from Nestle’s attempt to export millions of gallons a year of bottled
water from the Columbia River. The grassroots campaign attracted local farmers,
conservationists and native Americans and the ballot measure scored a stunning
69 percent victory.
“What that campaign taught me is that even if we are
outspent, we can take on special interests and win as long as we’re willing to
talk to our neighbors and stay focused on the public good,” she said.
del Val was born to a working-class family, raised in a
farming community by a father who served in two wars and a mother who processed
vegetables in the packing industry. As a college educator, she taught English
and was Department Chair at Portland Community College. She championed the
raising of capital for improvements at Mt. Hood Community College.
del Val is the current President of Hood River’s Rockford
Grange and has a deep appreciation for the important role farms and orchards in
District 52 play in Oregon’s agricultural economy and local communities alike.
The Democrat candidate will hold a Kick-Off (meet Aurora)
event from 6 to 8 p.m., March 2, at the Ant Farm in Sandy, followed by a
meeting from 9 to 10:30 a.m., March 3, at the Still Creek Inn.
“The Oregon Legislature will have the opportunity to show
that Oregon values our seniors, that we do not believe people should have the
emergency room as their only health care option, or that the interests of
corporations should be elevated above the interests of people,” del Val said.
The HD 52 seat is on the ballot following the resignation
last November of Rep. Mark Johnson (R-Hood River), and the subsequent selection
of Jeff Helfrich by the district Republican committee to assume the interim
seat.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Vector Control looks to take a bite out of bugs this summer posted on 03/01/2018
Two representatives from the Clackamas County Vector Control
District (CCVC), Interim Executive Director Josh Jacobson and office manager
Theresa Micallef, detailed methods used to monitor and control mosquito
populations on the mountain at the Tuesday, Feb. 6 meeting of the Mt. Hood Area
Chamber of Commerce, held at the Mount Hood Village RV Resort. They also
informed citizens of ways to reduce exposure to potential mosquito borne
illnesses such as West Nile and Zika viruses.
“We’re trying to have the minimum impact on people, property
and the environment,” Jacobson said, describing an approach called integrated
pest management, “while protecting citizens from mosquitoes.”
CCVC was established as a special district in 1964 to
control mosquito and fly populations that act as vectors, or carriers, of
pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and harmful protozoans.
Jacobson explained that limiting breeding grounds is an
essential aspect of control in which community members can play an important
role. Mosquitoes breed in any containers that hold still or stagnant water such
as bird baths, gutters and downspouts, tires, planters, rain barrels and
ditches.
Unmaintained backyard pools are cited as leading breeding
grounds in the area.
CCVC also reduces mosquito populations by providing any
citizen with a contained body of water on their property with free Gambusia
affinis, commonly known as mosquito fish. These minnows primarily feed on
mosquito larvae. This method can also help minimize the use of pesticides.
They advised community members to avoid exposure to mosquito
borne illness by limiting contact when mosquitoes are most active, during
sunrise, sunset and early evening. Jacobson recommended covering up with long
sleeves, long pants, socks and closed shoes when around mosquitoes and using
repellent containing DEET when necessary.
The West Nile virus is the primary mosquito borne illness of
concern for the CCVC. The virus produces flu-like symptoms in most cases but
can result in more severe complications for susceptible populations, including
those with compromised immune systems, the elderly and children.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported West Nile virus
in six Oregon counties in 2017, while no occurrences of West Nile virus were
reported in the Mount Hood area in 2017 according to the study. CCVC traps
mosquitoes in the region and tests potential vector species for the virus.
CCVC also watches for Zika virus, which was reported in the
continental United States in 2016. OHA reported that neither of the two species
of mosquitoes known to transmit the virus (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus)
has been detected in Oregon, while Jacobson confirmed that these species have
not been discovered in the area by mosquito population monitoring.
Mosquito populations in the region increase steadily through
the spring months before peaking in July and August and decreasing in the fall,
according to CCVC monitoring data. As
locals and tourists enjoy Mount Hood’s myriad summer offerings, controlling
populations is a shared concern.
Mount Hood Area Chamber of Commerce President Coni Scott
described the Feb. 6 meeting as well attended and reported a high level of
interest from local community and business members.
Additional information about methods mountain area residents
can use to prevent and limit their exposure to mosquitoes and mosquito borne
illnesses is available on the Clackamas County Vector Control website at
www.fightthebites.com.
By Benjamin Simpson/MT
|
| Mt. Hood Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes a new president posted on 03/01/2018
For the first time in about 10 years, the Mt. Hood Area
Chamber of Commerce will welcome a new president. At the Tuesday, March 6
meeting, Coni Scott’s tenure as the organization’s president will end, with
Jeri McMahan taking on the role.
McMahan noted that there are “big shoes to fill” and that
she hopes to continue the momentum built up over the past decade.
“We have a good board; it’s a volunteer position and I
always believe it’s the board, it’s the group that runs it,” she said. “It’s
not one person.”
McMahan headed the Hoodland Senior Center for 28 years and
served as a board member for the Welches Schools prior to school district
consolidation. She also serves with Clackamas County Tourism and Cultural
Affairs, a community partnership program.
“This woman is extremely qualified, I’m excited,” Scott
said.
McMahan added that she hopes to engage with the chamber’s
members to get more ideas on improving tourism and getting people to stay on
the mountain to help area businesses. But she also doesn’t see a need to make
any changes with the group.
“I think the chamber its well organized right now, I think
my idea right now is to keep going with the way we have things organized right
now,” McMahan said. “I don’t see anything that’s broken that we need to fix
right now.”
Scott, who will be the chamber’s vice president, noted that
she’s most proud of all the people that worked hard to make the chamber a
success during her tenure as president.
“If I’m going to be proud of anything, I’m going to be proud
of our family of friends up here,” she said. “I did nothing by myself. The
volunteers and the number of people we had from everywhere was amazing.”
Accomplishments during the past 10 years for the chamber
include a yearly breakfast honoring area volunteers, television commercials,
various brochures and more.
But one event Scott played a role in starting up, The Bite
of Mt. Hood, will not be back this year. Both Scott and McMahan cited the
amount of work and the numbers of volunteers needed to put the event on as the
biggest reason for not bringing it back this spring.
“We’re going out on a high note right now, and I think
that’s the way to do it instead of watch something fizzle out,” McMahan said.
“Hopefully, if we bring it back again, people will be out there waiting for
it.”
Scott noted that while she is sad the event will not happen,
she is proud of how the profits from The Bite were used to support other
organizations in the community, including the school and the Boy Scouts.
“The community gave, and I hope they know we gave back to
them, as well,” she said. “That’s really important, as far as I’m concerned.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| Portland man falls to his death on Hood posted on 03/01/2018
The stark beauty of Mount Hood, once again, unveiled its
other side.
The 11,240-foot peak claimed the life of Miha Sumi, 35, of
Portland, when the climber reportedly slipped on the ice and failed to
self-arrest, falling more than 700 feet from the Hogsback area on the south
face of the mountain.
Sumi’s injuries reportedly included bruising around the
ears, significant bleeding, loss of sensation and fading vital signs. Other
climbers reached Sumi – including his climbing partner Chatchay Thongthap who
made the initial 911 call – and administered CPR for approximately 1 1/2 hours.
An hour later an Oregon Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter arrived and
hoisted the fallen climber into the helicopter and transported him to Legacy
Emanuel Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased upon arrival.
The Feb. 13 rescue mission was complicated when for several
hours officials could not determine how many people remained on the mountain
when the weather turned warm and conditions worsened. Despite the clear skies,
falling rocks and ice hampered rescue efforts while NOAA was forecasting
significant snowfall that night.
Rescuers were racing against the clock.
Besides Sumi and those assisting him, there were stranded
climbers sheltering in place on Hogsback awaiting the rescue teams. These
climbers reportedly had mid-level experience and were well-equipped with
appropriate climbing gear, including ice axes, crampons, helmets and other
safety gear.
Members of the RAT team, Portland Mountain Rescue and the
304th Air Force Rescue Squadron headed up the mountain, assisted by snowcats
transporting other rescuers to the top of the Palmer lift for deployment and
were prepped to transport recovered climbers back to Timberline Lodge.
Rope lines were put down to assist the other stranded
climbers to safely descend the mountain. One of the climbers, Kimberly
Anderson, 32, of Beaverton was unable to move. She was later secured in a sled
and was transported to safety.
Matt Zovrtink and Dan Parks were the other climbers that
required assistance.
“Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Miha
Sumi,” Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts said in a press release. “Thanks
to all the search groups for their tremendous work on this complex
search-and-rescue mission. Every SAR mission is a team effort requiring help and
careful coordination from teams dedicated first-response partners and
volunteers.”
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Portland Mountain
Rescue, American Medical Response Reach & Treat Team, 304th Air Rescue
Squad, Hood River Crag Rats, Navy personnel from Whidbey Island, Oregon
Emergency Management and Mountain Wave.
Mount Hood is the second most climbed mountain in the world.
By Larry Berteau/MT
|
|  Macbeth.
Mistaken identities, murder most foul, a masquerade ball and
a coven of witches; Thursday, Feb. 15 was not the typical evening at Welches
Middle School. That night, seventh and eighth grade students offered
performances of William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Macbeth” as
the culmination of a two-week artist in residence program that was part of the
Right Brain Initiative.
“I was so proud of them,” said Kendra Payne, the school’s
principal. “It was just really amazing to see them take it so seriously and be
so excited about it and work so hard.”
For the program, which utilizes arts integration to help
students link learning from one area to others, a guest artist helped seventh
graders work on “Much Ado About Nothing,” a comedy about love and mistaken
identity, and eighth graders with “Macbeth,” a tragedy about the rise of
Macbeth to become the King of Scotland before his misdeeds lead to his fall.
Eighth grader Inanna Vognild had some acting experience from
a summer camp she went to a couple years ago, but faced the challenge of
playing both MacDuff and Lady Macbeth in the tragedy.
“I learned that it’s a lot harder than it actually seems,
but it can pay off in the end, because it’s fun putting on the performance,”
she said, noting that she had some familiarity with the play prior to working
on it. “I was a bit nervous that I might end up missing a cue or something, but
after the play a lot of people came up and said I did a good job.”
Seventh grader Sydney Brewster played Beatrice in “Much Ado
About Nothing,” her first theatrical endeavor, and faced the traditional
butterflies when the performance date arrived.
“I was nervous at first, then I started to get into it more
and it became more comfortable,” Brewster said.
Abel Castaneda played a variety of roles in the
seventh-grade show, including Benedict, Leonato and Claudio, but was ready for
the show thanks to practicing with his sister at home.
“I was pretty nervous and I think I did pretty good,” he
said.
This was the third full year that the school participated in
the Right Brain Initiative, and Payne noted this year’s program helped give
students a way to show a different side of themselves. She added that some kids
who have shown signs of disengagement and apathy in the classroom were able to
come out of their shell during their theatrical studies.
“That’s what we always want, to see the kids get engaged and
excited about learning,” Payne said, adding that this was the first time that
performing arts has been done at the Welches Schools “in a long time.”
The middle school will have a unit on Shakespeare later this
year, and Payne believes the performances will help students get a jump start
and be eager learners when it arrives.
“I think they’re going to be much more engaged with it and
have a deeper understanding of it because of the work they’re doing now,” she
said, adding that the elementary students also worked on Shakespeare plays but
did not have a final performance.
Parents of the seventh and eighth graders came away
impressed.
“I thought the kids looked like they were having a lot of
fun doing it,” said Hans Vognild, Inanna’s father, adding that the evening had
a positive feeling from the community support. “I think they did a really good
job, especially considering they only had two weeks to prepare.”
“I think they did amazing and a lot of them tried to buy
into their characters,” said Lidia Vento, Castaneda’s mother. “I was very proud
of them.”
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Karin Hoffman.
Karin Hoffman has made a full transition in her career since
her first child arrived three years ago, but one aspect has remained constant:
the bathroom.
Hoffman worked for A Touch of Class Cleaning before her
family expanded, when cleaning the bathroom (among other rooms) was just part
of the job. Now, Hoffman is a mother of two, and to help make some money while
being at home, she works as an acrylic painter and the most convenient place to
create her works is the lavatory.
“Having a three-year-old and a one-year-old, I have to be on
call all of the time,” Hoffman said. “Being there, I can be central, the kids
can come in and I can drop what I’m doing at a moment’s notice.”
Hoffman started working as an artist just last April, but she’s
already enjoyed some quick successes: two pieces were selected for a
beautification process in Beaverton, Cat’s Moon Coffee in Boring offers her
work on t-shirts and mugs, Wippersnappers in Sandy hired her for a mural in
their expanded play space and her work is currently showing at the Estacada
Library through April. After that, her work will be shown at the Sunnyside
Health & Wellness Center in Happy Valley May 11 through the Clackamas
County Arts Alliance (CCAA).
“It’s been pretty exciting,” said Hoffman, a Sandy resident.
“It’s really an honor.”
Hoffman noted that she is mainly self-taught, but that she
does have some artists in the family, including her grandmother on her mom’s
side and an uncle. She described her style as “pop realism,” taking a pop style
but trending towards realistic things, and she prefers to work with bright,
vivid colors.
“It definitely makes you feel happy and glad that your
artwork is touching people,” Hoffman said. “It’s nice when you find people who
are drawn to your style.”
Suzi Anderson, Programs Coordinator for the CCAA, noted that
Hoffman’s art received very high marks.
“It was so colorful and bright and cheery, that the
selection committee thought it would bring a lot of peace and joy to our
exhibit galleries,” she said.
The CCAA places artwork from county artists in 18 galleries
in 11 venues throughout Clackamas County, including public buildings, libraries,
hospitals, a bank and health centers, while running a number of programs that promote
art and culture. Anderson added that about half the artists in the exhibit
program are first-timers.
“We feel like it's a win-win-win situation: for the artists
to show work, for the public to have access of different varieties and it
beautifies their surroundings, as well,” she said.
Hoffman, who has also been hired to create commission
pieces, noted that her success has so far paid the art bills and provided some
profit on top.
“When I do get to reflect, which isn’t often, I do feel very
blessed and privileged that I’ve gotten to do this,” she said. “So far it
really has been going well, I’ve been thrilled to see that it’s something I can
continue to do. It’s been a thrilling ride.”
Prints of Hoffman’s work and more information are available
at Etsy.com/shop/BlissBrush, Facebook.com/BlissBrush,Instagram.com/BlissBrush
and www.blissbrush.com.
By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Photo by Sam Leninger
The welcome sight of crocus and daffodils will soon herald
the coming of spring. But lurking in the wings will be the loathsome invaders.
Joining the unsavory species such as policeman’s helmet,
Scotch broom, knotweed, ragwort, hawkweed – all of which have been exposed in
previous issues of The Mountain Times – comes another invasive, the lesser
celandine.
Don’t be fooled by its pretty presentation. It dresses up in
bright and shiny yellow flowers that hover on 6 to 8-inch stems over a sea of
glossy heart-shaped green leaves.
“Folks are starting to get anxious to start working in their
yards,” said Lisa Kilders, education and outreach program manager for the
Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District. “We think this is a good
time to catch their attention about a particularly aggressive invasive weed.
Lesser celandine can take over not only our yards, but also invades natural
areas.”
The plant only blooms for a few weeks in late winter or
early spring and then its flowers and leaves quickly wither away, Kilders
added. “During this critical period, it can prevent growth of native and
ornamental plants in gardens and natural areas by shading and secreting
growth-suppressing chemicals into the soil. These adaptations allow it to
out-compete more desirable plants, reducing diversity and aesthetics in your
garden. It does best in damp, disturbed areas, but is competitive in many
locations.”
Lesser celandine is also toxic to most mammals, including
humans and livestock.
Removing lesser celandine
To get rid of this weed, carefully dig them up and dispose
of them as trash. Be careful to not lose track of its finger-like bulbs that
easily separate and establish new plants. For large infestations, herbicides
with active ingredients of glyphosate and triclopyr are effective when applied
soon after the plant starts flowering. It is critically important to apply
according to the label instructions and to only in allowed settings.
You will also benefit from establishing and promoting
competing vegetation.
Find additional invasive species information at
weedwise.conservationdistrict.org. By Larry Berteau/MT
|
| Photo by Sam Leninger Lesser celandine can be more, and not in a good way posted on 03/01/2018
The welcome sight of crocus and daffodils will soon herald
the coming of spring. But lurking in the wings will be the loathsome invaders.
Joining the unsavory species such as policeman’s helmet,
Scotch broom, knotweed, ragwort, hawkweed – all of which have been exposed in
previous issues of The Mountain Times – comes another invasive, the lesser
celandine.
Don’t be fooled by its pretty presentation. It dresses up in
bright and shiny yellow flowers that hover on 6 to 8-inch stems over a sea of
glossy heart-shaped green leaves.
“Folks are starting to get anxious to start working in their
yards,” said Lisa Kilders, education and outreach program manager for the
Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District. “We think this is a good
time to catch their attention about a particularly aggressive invasive weed.
Lesser celandine can take over not only our yards, but also invades natural
areas.”
The plant only blooms for a few weeks in late winter or
early spring and then its flowers and leaves quickly wither away, Kilders
added. “During this critical period, it can prevent growth of native and
ornamental plants in gardens and natural areas by shading and secreting
growth-suppressing chemicals into the soil. These adaptations allow it to
out-compete more desirable plants, reducing diversity and aesthetics in your
garden. It does best in damp, disturbed areas, but is competitive in many
locations.”
Lesser celandine is also toxic to most mammals, including
humans and livestock.
Removing lesser celandine
To get rid of this weed, carefully dig them up and dispose
of them as trash. Be careful to not lose track of its finger-like bulbs that
easily separate and establish new plants. For large infestations, herbicides
with active ingredients of glyphosate and triclopyr are effective when applied
soon after the plant starts flowering. It is critically important to apply
according to the label instructions and to only in allowed settings.
You will also benefit from establishing and promoting
competing vegetation.
Find additional invasive species information at
weedwise.conservationdistrict.org. By Larry Berteau/MT
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|  Drone photo by Daryl Moistner.
A 55-acre swath has been logged at the nexus of Birdie Lane
and Welches Road.
The property was purchased in September 2017 by Chilton
Logging Inc. of Woodland, Wash., and the logging operation began in early
October, with the work finished in November.
The property is zoned Mountain Recreational Resort by
Clackamas County which clears the way for different recreational and
residential uses.
Craig Chilton, owner of the logging and development company,
reached out to the community in a telephone interview with The Mountain Times.
“We want to work with the community,” Chilton said. “We want
to be nice, fit in as much as possible.”
In the beginning, Chilton indicated in an email that first
and foremost (regarding the purchase) was the fact that it was a great piece of
timberland.
“As we progressed from purchase to harvest, the development
potential of the property began to stand out – particularly once the trees were
harvested,” Chilton wrote. “The land has so much potential: gently sloped, near
to the highway and the neighboring resort and golf course. It’s a very unique
property … which presents us with a lot of options moving forward.”
Chilton added that he is still researching how best to
develop the property. “We try to look at all our options. Everything from
developing the property ourselves, selling it to another party to develop, or
working with one of the established resorts already on the mountain to create a
recreational community … our options are fairly wide open. Whatever we do we
want it to be a quality development. Something the people in this area can be
proud of.”
David Lythgoe, owner of Merit Properties in Welches, gave
The Mountain Times his view of the operation.
“For loggers, I think they did a good job,” Lythgoe wrote in
an email. “They did not totally clear cut which they could have done. I wish
they had left a few more evergreen trees. It now looks open to maple,
cottonwood and alder re-forestation.”
Chilton indicated the single biggest obstacle has (and will
be) codes and regulations.
“This isn’t to say that we are out to avoid regulations, or
do work in violation of state and local regulators,” he wrote. “We work and
respect those rules. The concern is that many land use laws regulate to the
lowest common denominator. We pride ourselves in the quality of our
developments, but a lot of time, energy and money is spent essentially proving
to agencies that you aren’t out to make a quick buck and damage other property
owners. In the end, it raises the cost of development unnecessarily for
everyone – from the developer right on down to the homeowner.”
Chilton Logging Inc. has been family owned and operated for
five generations. Craig Chilton acquired the company from his father in 1990,
and in 2000 launched a custom home construction division.
“It was shortly after launching the custom home division
that we realized the opportunity that lay between forestry management and
homebuilding: land development,” Chilton wrote. “It was a logical connection,
and it allowed us to create quality developments for the placement of custom
homes – from forestland to neighborhoods.”
The company has grown over the years, and now employs
approximately 85 people.
By Larry Berteau/MT
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|  Chief John Ingrao (left) and Dana Waldron
The Hoodland Fire District (HFD) celebrated another year of
service at the annual awards banquet on Saturday, Jan. 27, at The Resort at The
Mountain. The yearly event offers a chance for the district to present awards
and enjoy dinner, live music by Bob Voll and the Too Loose Band and an evening
of entertainment for all the district’s members, including volunteers, the
board of directors, support groups, lifetime members, retirees and the paid
staff.
HFD Chief John Ingrao noted the event ties together the
members of the district that don’t often get the chance to mingle.
“I think (it's special) because we have so many different
skill sets and areas of responsibility, and we work in conjunction but not all
together,” Ingrao said. “We’re thanking each other and having a celebration.”
The Fire Fighter of the Year award went to Dana Waldron, who
has volunteered with the district for two years. Ingrao noted that Waldron’s
selection was unanimous, including all paid staff and duty officers, and that
he is exceedingly skilled and always wants to be helping.
“He’s just consistently striving to do better and because of
that it brings everybody else up with him,” Ingrao said. “He just exemplifies
that volunteer spirit.”
Waldron noted that he joined the district after a loss in
his family and that winning the award is “humbling.”
“I don’t see myself as doing that much more than anybody
else,” Waldron said. “I love my Hoodland Fire District and I hope I can serve
it for a long time to come.”
Matt Garcia earned the Rookie of the Year award, while
Melinda Caldwell took home the EMS Responder of the Year award and Tom Nelson
won the Support Volunteer of the Year. Years in Service Awards winners included
Cody Anderson (five years); Evan Jarvis, Joe Schwab and Eric Macy (ten years
each); and Linn and Carol Norgard (35 years each).
New awards were also given out this year, including Above
and Beyond awards, for both combat personnel and support staff, and the Chief’s
Award, for the person who transcends all the other awards and is there every
possible moment when needed. Kevin Frank won the Above and Beyond (Combat)
award, Sally Chester and Debra Sinz took home the Above and Beyond (Support)
award and James Jarvis received the Chief’s Award.
“We weren’t capturing all of the extra work and effort that
people have done,” Ingrao said. “There's so many doing so much stuff, we kind
of forget about it. They’re going above and beyond.”
The district also honored the Support Group/CERT and the
Lions Club with Nominated Awards for their work on the Great American Eclipse
last year. Lieutenant/EMT-1 Phil Burks noted the eclipse was unprecedented and
the time and effort put in for it was over multiple days. The two groups helped
to serve more than 650 meals to members of various public safety organizations
during all hours of the day and night during the event.
“We called on the district to do a lot and the district
answered in all ways very well, and exceeded the expectations of everyone,”
Burks said. By Garth Guibord/MT
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| The Hoodland Senior Center celebrates 40 years on the mountain posted on 02/01/2018
40 years ago this month, 65 people, including Clackamas
County Commissioner Stan Skoko, celebrated the opening of the Hoodland Senior
Center, Information & Referral Center at the Lions Club. On Wednesday, Feb.
28, the Senior Center will celebrate four decades of serving seniors from Alder
Creek to Government Camp at its current location, 65000 E. Hwy. 26 in Welches.
The celebration will take place from 1-3 p.m.
Ella Vogel, the center’s director, noted that all their
efforts are supported by volunteers.
“They’ve been the backbone of this organization from the beginning,”
she said.
The group first formed in November 1976, devised by Reva Cox
as the Hoodland Senior Citizens, and held the first potluck luncheon at the
Lions Club on Feb. 8, 1977. 32 people came to the first meeting, followed by 52
at the second, with potluck luncheons becoming a monthly event.
“That’s what I found amazing, it was established by potluck
luncheons and just volunteers,” said Vogel, who has been combing through the
organization’s history in the recent months.
The center runs a variety of programs, including classes on
topics such as knitting and better bone health, offers trips to a wide range of
activities including Spirit Mountain Casino, OMSI and restaurants, counsels
seniors on Medicare and also operates the local Meals On Wheels program. Vogel,
one of two part-time employees, notes that the organization operates solely on
donations and stressed the importance of the volunteers, including the Meals On
Wheels drivers (Bob Boertien, Julie Bailey, Mary Imel McIntosh, Connie Mahlum,
Judy Simon, Susan Stindt and Barbara Vangelder), who delivered 2,785 meals, and
bus drivers (Doug Burk, Bob Fletcher, Ed Grenfell, David Marshall and Mark
Smith), who drove 4,571 miles and 1,401 one-way trips during the 2016-17 fiscal
year.
Vogel hopes to make a list of volunteers throughout the
years and also create a “wall of memories,” featuring photos of them.
“There's nothing more than I‘d like to show them how much we
appreciate them,” Vogel said.
Vogel noted that one recent addition to the center has made
a difference – a shed that stores medical equipment, including wheelchairs and
walkers. Wheelchairs are offered at $1 a day (no charge for walkers), giving
seniors on the mountain an affordable option that is nearby.
And as for future programs, Vogel hopes to potentially add a
farmer’s market in the center’s parking lot sometime. By Garth Guibord/MT
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| Help with water bills available through RWA posted on 02/01/2018
The Rhododendron Water Association (RWA) has put into place
for its water customers a Ratepayer Assistance Program (RAP).
The RAP provides any member of the association having difficulty
paying their water dues to confidentially apply for financial assistance.
Funding will come from donations of RWA customers who wish
to contribute to the program and other community donations or assistance
programs. Only funds donated for the RAP will be used.
“The RWA Board is relying on the generosity of the Hoodland
community and other RWA members to help fund the program,” RWA President Steve
Graeper wrote in a press release. “The amount of assistance available will be
solely dependent on the funds available through donation. A committee of three
RWA board members will administer the program, review applications and
determine eligibility and the amount of assistance for each applicant.”
The committee will accept applications through March 1 dues
payment deadline.
“RWA sincerely hopes that the community will generously
respond with donations when they realize the benefit of helping out neighbors
who may find it difficult to make ends meet not only helps the recipient, but
the entire Hoodland economy as well,” Graeper wrote. “To my knowledge, this is
a first of a kind program offered for water users on the Mountain.”
Applications can be submitted through RWA by calling
503-622-5000, email at rhododendron.water@gmail.com or on the website at rhodywater.com.
Donations may be sent to RWA, PO Box 163, Rhododendron, Oregon, or call
503-622-3000 to donate by credit card.
Logo Contest
The Rhododendron CPO is sponsoring a logo contest with a
10:30 a.m., March 17 deadline for submissions in order to be displayed that day
at the Rhododendron CPO meeting.
“We would prefer as finished (a product) as possible … All
entries will be displayed and the more finished an entry is the better chance
it has to be voted among the top three (winners),” Graeper wrote to Will Frank
of the Clackamas County Arts Alliance who is helping get the word out.
Preference for submissions will be a logo with something
tangible to display such as a poster board display or 8.5-inch x 11-inch paper
would also work, Graeper added. Presentation will help sell the work.
The logo will be used for numerous CPO displays, including
T-shirts, coffee cups, etc.
Winning prizes include: 18 holes of golf and cart from The
Resort at the Mountain; $25 gift certificate from the Skyway Bar & Grill;
cross country/snowboard/or snowshoe rental from Otto’s in Sandy; and lift
tickets for two for tubing or skiing at Skibowl. More prizes may be offered as
businesses continue to donate. The contest is open to anyone.
Submissions should be mailed to Rhododendron CPO, PO Box 33,
Rhododendron, Oregon 97049.
By Larry Berteau/MT
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| Welches students take on Great Kindness Challenge posted on 02/01/2018
The Welches Schools took kindness to heart last month with
the Great Kindness Challenge, a week dedicated to focusing on kindness
featuring daily themes and a checklist of kind acts students tried to
accomplish. The WILL Club (Welches Intermediate Leadership Liaison) took part
in picking the daily themes, and fifth grader Bailey Sheehan was especially
kind to the theme of “Roundup for Kindness,” voting twice for it.
“That one sounds really cool,” said Sheehan, 11, about the
chance for students to dress up in cowboy and cowgirl gear.
The week consisted of: “Team Up for Kindness,” dressing in
favorite sports team outfit, on Monday; “Tied Together with Kindness,”
featuring scarves and ties, on Tuesday; “Kindness Rocks,” with rock star
apparel on Wednesday; “Roundup for Kindness” on Thursday; and “Dreaming of
Kindness,” dressing in pajamas, on Friday.
This was not the first venture into kindness for the school,
as they worked on compliments and showing kindness last school year, but it
took on a greater focus this year with the Great Kindness Challenge, a program
run by the nonprofit organization Kids for Peace. Welches Schools Principal
Kendra Payne noted that by registering with the organization, they had access
to tools, curriculum and activities to better organize their efforts.
“We believe that educating the whole child is crucial, so
teaching social (and) emotional skills is part of our role,” Payne wrote in an
email to the Mountain Times. “We wanted to bring Kindness to the forefront
because it helps students in all aspects of life.”
The students also noted why kindness to others is a virtue
worth practicing.
“It’s important to be kind because if you're not kind, then
not a lot of people are going to like you,” said Kadence Gilman, 10, a fifth
grader. “If we just had a lot of mean people in the world, the world would be
different.”
“I think kindness is important because kindness will get you
a long way in life and makes things a lot easier,” Sheehan added.
They also saw how they already acted kindly and helped
others out.
“My sister asked me to make food,” said Nestor Gallardo, 10,
a fifth grader, adding that he also says nice things to other people and holds
the door open for others.
“When my dad needs help around the house, I help out,”
Gilman said, adding that she also cleans her room on a daily basis.
Students also received paper links for each entry on the
checklist they completed, with each link then put together to make a chain.
“What we hope is all of our small acts together will grow
into a really big chain of kindness that will carry over to the rest of the
year,” Payne told the students at a kick off assembly on Friday, Jan. 19.
“We’re going to work together to grow small links into chain in classroom, then
take all classroom chains and link them together for a school chain.”
Payne also noted to the Mountain Times how the focus on
kindness can help model examples of the behavior for a wide range of ages,
including middle school students helping the younger students.
“Our 5th graders act as peer helpers at recess to model
kindness and help talk through conflict resolution with younger students,” she
wrote. “Sometimes it's more effective for kids to learn from kids, especially
when it comes to peer interactions.” By Garth Guibord/MT
|
|  Two wolves.
(MT) – Two wolves have been spotted on the White River Area
and Mt. Hood National Forest and have also been observed on the Warm Springs
Indian Reservation, according to a report from the Oregon Department of Fish
and Wildlife (ODFW).
The sighting is the first-time multiple wolves have been
documented in the northern portion of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains since they
started returning to Oregon in the 2000s.
A lone wolf was observed in the White River Area in December
2013, and a wolf from the Imnaha park roamed the area on his way to Klamath
County. Later in 2015, one wolf was documented in Wasco County.
Wolves in Wasco County and anywhere west of Hwys. 395-78-95
are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act, so U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is the lead management agency.
ODFW will provide additional information about Oregon’s wolf
population in March, after the agency completes its annual winter surveys and
minimum population count.
|
|  2017 Bar Theatre
The Clackamas Repertory Theatre announced its 2018 summer
season last month, a slate that includes a reimagined production of Jane
Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility,” the musical “Annie” and the return of a play
that CRT offered previously as a staged reading, “Ripcord.” And while all three
feature stories surrounding strong women, CRT Assistant Managing Director Jayne
Stevens noted that the theater did not set out to make that this year’s theme.
“When we pick the shows, it kind of just happens
organically,” Stevens said. “But we were drawn to these plays for a reason.”
Things kick off with “Sense and Sensibility,” by Kate
Hamill, adapted from Austen’s novel and directed by Karlyn Love, who directed a
CRT production of “A Christmas Carol.” In this adaptation, running from June 28
through July 22, ten actors play all the roles on a sparse set and Stevens
noted that the ensemble piece should work well in the theater’s space.
“We’re so thrust out there in the audience, it’s nice for
them to see plays like that,” she said.
The classic musical, “Annie, book by Thomas Meehan, music by
Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, follows from Aug. 2-26. Stevens,
who will direct the show along with Wesley Robert Hanson, noted that she played
the titular role when she was 12 and when she was asked which musical she’d
like to do, the answer was easy.
“It stuck with me,” Stevens said. “It’s a perfect fit for
the season.”
The third show of the 2018 season will be “Ripcord,” by
David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by David Smith-English, from Sept. 6-30.
Stevens noted that the theater has done a couple of shows by the playwright
already and did this one as a staged reading last year.
Thanks to the strong audience response at that reading, the
show is back, along with the two women who were in the lead roles for the
reading, Randi Douglas as Abby and Anita Sorel as Marilyn.
The summer season will also offer two concerts, with
Susannah Mars and Merideth Kaye Clark singing the hits of Barbra Streisand and
Judy Garland at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 15, and “Portland Sings!” featuring local
artists singing Broadway hits at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19.
Stevens noted that last year’s “Portland Sings!” concert
packed the house, prompting the theater to do it again this year.
“We never had that big of a response,” she said.
Children’s Theater and Staged Readings
Luckily for theatergoers, CRT’s calendar features some
offerings that are a little sooner, including the latest in the theater’s
interactive children’s shows, “Wing It, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10. The
series, developed and directed by Travis Nodurft, a CRT company member,
professional clown and Oregon City sixth-grade teacher, is created for children
two to ten years of age, but it’s fun for all ages.
“Wing It” includes singing, dancing and a talent show for
kids, offering a chance to go up on stage. Admission is $5 at the door with no
reserved seating. Future “Wing It” performances include April 21, June 16 and
Sept. 29.
CRT will also offer staged readings, kicking things off with
“Red Speedo,” by Lucas Hnath, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11. The playwright is also
known for “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” which picks up 15 years after the action
concludes in Henrik Ibsen’s classic play, “A Doll’s House.” A Broadway
production of Hnath’s play earned eight 2017 Tony Award nominations.
“Red Speedo” offers the story of a professional swimmer
trying to go to the Olympics and deals with the pressures coming from different
angles and how the swimmer responds to them.
“There’s a really great relationship between the Olympic
swimmer and his brother, who’s bailed him out on several occasions,” Stevens
said. “It’s pretty interesting to see the demise of it.”
CRT will also offer another reading by Hnath, “The
Christians,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 25.
Meanwhile, CRT will continue its “Bar Theatre” series with a
reading of Jeffery Hatcher’s “Mrs. Mannerly” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday March 4, at
Trail Distilling, 21553 S Hwy. 213 in Oregon City, and a reading of Christian
O’Reilly’s “Chapatti” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at Portland Cider Company,
8925 SE Jannsen Road in Clackamas.
Tickets to the “Bar Theatre” events include one custom CRT
cocktail or beverage.
All performances take place at the Niemeyer Center on the
Oregon City campus of Clackamas Community College, 19600 Molalla Avenue in
Oregon City, unless noted. For more information, including ticketing
information, visit clackamasrep.org or call 503-594-6047 (tickets for the “Wing
It” series are only available at the door).
Sandy show continues
The Sandy Actors Theatre’s production of “Rose Colored Glass,”
by Sue Bigelow and Janice Goldberg, continues through Sunday, Feb. 18, at 39181
Proctor Blvd. (behind Ace Hardware).
The play is set in 1938 in a Chicago alley shared by a bar
and a delicatessen, and told in a series of flashbacks by a young girl at the
time. The distrustful widows who run the businesses eventually become friends
as they try to bring one’s nephew into the country and away from the horrors of
Nazi Germany at the time.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3
p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $18 general admission and $15 for students and
seniors (reservations are recommended).
For more information, or to make reservations call
503-668-6834 or visit sandyactorstheatre.org. By Garth Guibord/MT
|
| 2017 Bar Theatre The Scene on Stage: CRT announces new season, and more posted on 02/01/2018
The Clackamas Repertory Theatre announced its 2018 summer
season last month, a slate that includes a reimagined production of Jane
Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility,” the musical “Annie” and the return of a play
that CRT offered previously as a staged reading, “Ripcord.” And while all three
feature stories surrounding strong women, CRT Assistant Managing Director Jayne
Stevens noted that the theater did not set out to make that this year’s theme.
“When we pick the shows, it kind of just happens
organically,” Stevens said. “But we were drawn to these plays for a reason.”
Things kick off with “Sense and Sensibility,” by Kate
Hamill, adapted from Austen’s novel and directed by Karlyn Love, who directed a
CRT production of “A Christmas Carol.” In this adaptation, running from June 28
through July 22, ten actors play all the roles on a sparse set and Stevens
noted that the ensemble piece should work well in the theater’s space.
“We’re so thrust out there in the audience, it’s nice for
them to see plays like that,” she said.
The classic musical, “Annie, book by Thomas Meehan, music by
Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, follows from Aug. 2-26. Stevens,
who will direct the show along with Wesley Robert Hanson, noted that she played
the titular role when she was 12 and when she was asked which musical she’d
like to do, the answer was easy.
“It stuck with me,” Stevens said. “I |
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