Behind every moment of comfort, every reassuring conversation, and every quiet act of kindness in hospice care, there is often a volunteer making a difference. Volunteer Appreciation Month is an opportunity to recognize the extraordinary individuals who offer their time, empathy, and presence to those facing life’s most difficult moments - and to express how grateful we are to have you as part of our team.  Volunteers have always been at the heart of hospice care. In fact, it

Carol Ann Taylor-Smith passed away at home on March 11, 2026, following a courageous three-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Born November 14, 1952, she was the oldest of eight children born to Bill and Carolyn Taylor in Willows, California. She spent her early life in Willows surrounded by her loving family and graduated from Willows High School. Carol held many jobs during her life, but because she was highly organized and had a keen eye for detail, her skills were especi

Jim Turin Memorial Lions Scholarship Dinner, Saturday April 4th! Please plan to attend our Jim Turin Memorial Lions Scholarship Dinner on Saturday April 4th. Happy Hour begins at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 6.00 p.m.. This year's dinner will include Spaghetti, Italian Sausage, Italian Bread and Salad (we’ll be using some of Lion Jim’s famous recipes).Price at the door is $8 for Kids 10 and under, and $20 for adults. Special Adult Presale tickets are available for $18 at Welches

Member feature: Linda Bergman Linda Bergman had always wanted to live by water. So when she found a place on the Sandy River, she sold her beloved arts and crafts bungalow in Portland and moved to Hoodland. In the 10 years she’s lived up here, Linda has created a yard full of flowers – fuschias echinacea, hostas, geraniums in pots. “I’ve tried to make a space that’s colorful,” she said.  “I start every morning on the deck if it’s nice – with a book. I read pretty much constan

Welcome back, dear reader, to another season of madcap mayhem from the world of golf, for which I will be your nutty but loveable ace reporter. I promise to leave no turn unstoned as I track down all the dirt, corruption, and secrets in golfdom. I'll do what I can but I make no promises that I'll get anyone kicked out of the royal family! In club news, our president Seaberg Einnerson has informed me that the men will kick off their schedule on the first Tuesday of April, and

It’s official. Orlando Cryer has joined the ranks of the Hoodland Fire District as a volunteer firefighter. He and his fellow classmates were sworn in and received their badges from the recruit academy at a special graduation ceremony on March 10 at the fire station.. Training started in the fall with a field of more than 20 prospects, 11 of whom earned their badges after completing a challenging course of studies and physical exercises.  “I really liked the training.” Cryer

Most of you know that the mission of the Hoodland Community Planning Organization (HCPO) is to bring County information to our Hoodland community members and provide a loud voice back to the County. We also provide speaking engagements of interest to the community. We are looking forward to a presentation on General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) and the Hoodland Emergency Communication Service (HECN). Marti Bowne is the co-coordinator of the HECN and the primary person engaged

It’s been a roller coaster of a decade on the mountain. We’ve seen historic wildfires, a massive influx of attention (and tourists), and we’ve all endured a pandemic. Throughout the tumult, Mt. Hood Resort General Manager Chris Spinner has worked tirelessly to distinguish himself and his service at the Mt. Hood landmark. To some degree, Spinner has lived the American Dream. While he now sits atop the ladder as General Manager, he first began working at the Mt. Hood Resort as

One of Mt. Hood’s most respected institutions, Camp Arrah Wanna, is celebrating 85 years as a summer camp, retreat location, and Mt. Hood landmark. Camp Arrah Wanna has long been a landmark in the Hoodland area. Newcomers to the area quickly discover a new friend or neighbor with some connection to the Christian camp. Arrah Wanna is in the mountain’s bloodstream. And, it has worked hard to earn that spot by providing a safe space for kids throughout the region to learn and gr

In an effort to continue to force Eleanor a little more out of her comfort zone (our girl is truly dedicated to her detective novels, particularly those with a female villain), we have been exploring new genres with storylines we’d normally avoid. So when we found Australian author Daniel O’Malley and his “whodunnit” science fiction books, we knew this would be the best way to dip our toes into the world of the weird and unimaginable. O’Malley’s “The Rook” Series is what woul

Music by Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi will fill the historic Steiner Log Church in Welches this spring when the Bach Cantata Choir presents two special performances on Sunday, May 17. The choir will perform the same one-hour program twice that afternoon, with concerts scheduled from 3 to 4 p.m. and again from 5 to 6 p.m. at the small hand-built Steiner Log Church, 68835 E. Barlow Trail Road. The performance will feature 30 voices from the Bach Cantata Choir accompanied by two vi

“You’re basically getting punished all the time,” junior Claire Parks said in regards to running track. Parks believes track is one of the most physically demanding sports because “it’s basically other sports’ punishment.” Despite that feeling of constant punishment, Parks stays motivated through pressure, exhaustion, and injury as she tries to become her most successful self.  Parks began track her freshman year as a way to get in shape for soccer, but she learned she actual

When it comes to lifelong Mt. Hood Villages’ residents making an impact in the world of art, Colleen McCloskey is adding value to the scene one stitch at a time. A Mt. Hood Villages resident since before the age of two, McCloskey not only finds her artwork driven by passion and knowledge, but by generations of artists passing down those creative genes. Gifted in the fiber arts since childhood, McCloskey finds peace and profession in the crochet work she creates. “My mom initi

After school each day, teens begin filtering into AntFarm’s YouthHub spaces in Sandy, Estacada, and Molalla. Some head for the pool table. Others grab a snack, connect to the Wi-Fi, or simply sit and talk with friends. For many of them, it is one of the few places in town where they can simply show up and belong. “I like hanging out with my friends here,” said Liam, a regular at the Estacada YouthHub. “There are not a lot of places to hang out here.” AntFarm did not begin as

In my previous article, I talked about the Dental Office Bandits in Oregon and how their creative plan actually worked and they were never caught.  I also brought up that at about the same time as this was happening, the biggest and boldest heist in recent history was committed in Paris at the famous Louvre museum.  I promised an epilogue to that story involving the biggest art heist in history that was somehow tied to dentistry. While in dental school in Boston over 20 years

Back by popular demand, The Mt. Hood Villages yoga scene returns to the area with a number of classes, days, and times for community members to choose from. After a long hiatus owing to different yoga instructors moving from the mountain to explore other avenues, fresh new community members have relocated to The Mt. Hood Villages, and with them comes a new influx of yoga for the community. Mt. Hood Villages resident and current yoga instructor Elle Mesa is just one of the man

The lack of snow on Mt. Hood is on many people’s minds these days. Our ski resorts are hoping for more, to salvage a disappointing season. Businesses are struggling with fewer visitors than usual. But there is hope: Data from Timberline Lodge show that in all four of the seasons with the lowest snowpack, the snowpack recovered significantly in the spring. In three of those seasons, snowpack ended up above the long-term depth by May, as the chart on this page shows. In 1980/19

In my previous article, I talked about the Dental Office Bandits in Oregon and how their creative plan actually worked and they were never caught.  I also brought up that at about the same time as this was happening, the biggest and boldest heist in recent history was committed in Paris at the famous Louvre museum.  I promised an epilogue to that story involving the biggest art heist in history that was somehow tied to dentistry. While in dental school in Boston over 20 years

Chiropractic is rooted in a timeless understanding of life and health — one articulated and fiercely protected by B.J. Palmer, the developer of chiropractic and son of its founder, D.D. Palmer. Often called the philosopher of chiropractic, Palmer dedicated his life to preserving a core truth: that the body is intelligent, self-healing, and governed by the nervous system. He taught that life flows Above-Down, Inside-Out. From the brain, housed within the skull, messages travel

Letter to the Editor Dear Welches Family, Friends and Neighbors, I am reaching out regarding a new project I am working on for St. John in the Woods Catholic Church. This July marks their 100th anniversary in Welches and I am part of a team working on creating a commemorative book to mark the occasion. St. John in the Woods is rich in history, not only as a place of worship, but also as a symbol of the region’s past. In 1937, Henry Steiner built a new log church after the ori

In late February, the Skiyente Women’s Ski Club marked 70 years of "badass" sisterhood on the slopes of Mount Hood, culminating in the annual Maryanne Cup race at Summit Ski Area. Named for the club’s legendary founder Maryanne Hill, the event celebrated both the club’s history and its thriving present. Founded in 1955, Skiyente began when a group of women decided they weren’t content to “putter around the bunny slopes.” They wanted to race – and race seriously. Seven decades

On March 20, the Sandy Parks and Rec Department and Sandy Library are taking over the Sandy Community Center for a night of wholesome, nearly silent fun. For 15 dollars, kids in grades six through 12 can spend two-and-a-half hours hanging with their friends in an environment parents can feel comfortable with. It’s time for the fourth annual Silent Disco at the Sandy Community Center. The Silent Disco is organized by the Parks Department’s Recreation Coordinator, Carol Cohen,

Relocation plans for the Mount Hood Rest Area are moving forward, bringing a significant change to Government Camp. When the existing facility moves southeast along Highway 26, the town will lose its only public restrooms – prompting Clackamas County to move ahead with a  replacement near the Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum. Teresa Christopherson, administrator for Clackamas County’s Social Services Division, said the county has identified a final site for the local fac

Place of birth: Salem, Oregon How long on the Mountain? 56 years; my entire life, as we have always had a cabin on the ZigZag and we have had two of them. If you were not brought here as a child, what brought you to the Mountain? I was adopted at a month old and the family that raised me brought me to the Old Forest from the time I was an infant. Profession: Philosopher, Researcher, Consultant, and Homeowner Board Member of Proud Ground (Community Land Trust). Other p

Grief Made Visible  is a collection of writing and visual art that fosters greater awareness and understanding of grief within our community. Each year, participants from Mt. Hood Hospice’s free community grief support groups are invited to share artwork and writings that reflect insights from their personal grief journeys. The exhibit typically features 50-70 pieces created by 10-20 artists. Hosted throughout the month of April at AntFarm Café and Bakery in Sandy, Oregon, th

When it comes to community involvement and dedication to giving back, the ladies of Wander Free and Queer have set the bar high. Not only do they design, create, and inspire with their LGBTQ+ merchandise through their business, they’re taking their voice and compassion to the community with events to help encourage and educate their fellow neighbors on what it means to be proud of who you are. Mt. Hood Village residents since 2020, Danella Demary and Allie Schouten began thei

Seven years ago, the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival returned home to the Mt. Hood Community College campus, where, in its heyday, it drew in thousands of jazz enthusiasts and big name musicians like B.B. King, Rosemary Clooney, and Tito Puente.  Now under the management of the college — and its Director of Jazz Studies/Music Instructor Dan Davey — the festival has expanded to not only serve up five days of terrific tunes, but opportunities for middle and high school musicians to comp

Although the end of February provided some much needed winter weather in The Mt. Hood National Forest, reports indicate that this winter’s snowpack is at critically low levels. With little to no snow over the holiday season and January and February producing spring-like temperatures, Mt. Hood’s pristine snow-covered base was almost nonexistent.  According to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA], as of mid February, the snowpack on Mt. Hood was around 34-

Hoodland Women’s Club member Emily Overland had been an urban kid all her life. But she’d always dreamed of living in the mountains. Then, two years ago, an opportunity to live on the mountain just dropped into her life. She and her partner moved up here in 2025. “It has been a big adjustment, but we love it,” Emily said. Trails into the woods are right out their front door. “I love the quiet and the slower pace on the mountain. It’s so easy, so fulfilling.” Emily joined HWC

Map Curve, also known as “Dead Man’s Curve” by locals, is a sweeping curve of Highway 26 just west of Government Camp. The scenic stretch of highway is notorious for being the site of serious car crashes over the years. Evan Jarvis will never forget that July night in 2023 when he responded to the call as a member of the special rope rescue team. He and other emergency first responders performed the daring rescue of two injured crash victims. Hoodland and Clackamas County fir

If you’ve never made the drive up to Skibowl for a round (or six) of Cosmic Tubing, now is your best shot. Thanks to Skibowl’s rigorous commitment to keeping snow on the ground, there’s never a bad time to hit the slopes, whether you’re riding an inner tube or a pair of skis. It’s been a rough year for snowfall on Mt. Hood. For an anxiety-inducing example of that fact, let’s look at one of the key metrics used by professionals to measure the snowpack: snow water equivalent. E

Eleanor did it again: Another swell book to curl up with and enjoy while waiting for our winter to arrive. One does wonder if her objective was more plotting than pleasure (I never know with her), but whatever her intentions, high praise is in order for Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club .  Unlike many other detective novels, the scene is set at a retirement home and not a dingy, dark, rundown office in some shady part of London. And unlike many other detective novels,

As Sandy High School senior Payten Priester springs onto the mat in Anaheim, California, she realizes she is accomplishing something she never would’ve imagined possible her freshman year: cheering in front of 8,000 spectators at USA Spirit Nationals.  Priester began her high school cheerleading career her sophomore year, but her experience with cheer began far before that. In addition to several years of youth cheer, Priester has been attending practices and games since she

Most art that captivates its audience is displayed on canvas or inside a frame, but some of the more unique forms are the pieces of everyday or special occasion jewelry made by Mt. Hood Villages jewelry maker Patrick Looney – and his art is practical and perfect. A resident of The Mt. Hood Villages for thirty years, Looney’s passion for creating art with metals began in high school, and he has recently discovered that his jewelry not only reflects his creativity, but are top

With lower snowpack across much of Oregon and early signs of dry summer conditions, wildfire preparedness is already part of the conversation in many rural communities. On the west side of the Cascades, spring rain can still influence how fire season unfolds. But when snowpack is lower, preparation becomes even more important. In Sandy and surrounding areas, AntFarm’s Community Wildfire Defense Program is not waiting to see what summer brings. Backed primarily by funding thro

Clackamas County officials are urging residents to take a few minutes to share their experiences with rising living costs and access to essential services before a key deadline later this month. The county’s Community Needs Assessment survey , which is conducted once every three years, is open now and will remain available through March 15 . Officials say the feedback helps guide how social services funding and resources are directed throughout the county. Residents who compl

Photo of the Glade Trail in 1957 by Hal Lidell. (MHCCM Collection 2007.044.0126d, Donated by Judy Pahl in memory of Hal Lidell. On a clear winter morning in Government Camp, it’s easy to imagine what the mountain looked like decades ago. Before high-speed lifts and groomed runs became the norm, skiers carved their way through trees and open glades, following routes that felt more like backcountry adventures than resort laps. For many longtime locals, those early ski routes we

Camp Arrah Wanna's annual youth Winter Camp this coming weekend, February 13th-16th and have had four last-minute cabin counselor cancellations, plus a medic, due to unforeseen circumstances with travel. Are you or do you know someone that would be willing and able to volunteer? Volunteer positions needed:     (2) Female cabin counselors      (3) Male cabin counselors     (1) Medic WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!! Scan the QR code on the flyer or follow this link to apply:  Sign-in | Ca

Hoodland Senior Center’s Executive Director, Carianne Stearns, has announced she will resign from her position in March 2026, marking the end of more than two years of dedicated service to seniors in the Hoodland community. Change is a normal part of life, and this moment offers a chance to reflect on the positive energy, growth, and care that Carianne has brought to the Senior Center during her time as director. On behalf of the Board of Directors, the center extends sincere

Most of you know that the mission of the Hoodland Community Planning Organization (HCPO) is to bring County information to our Hoodland community members and provide a loud voice back to the County. We also provide speaking opportunities of interest to the community. At the February 19 th  7:00 p.m. CPO meeting, we are pleased to bring Gary Randall, photographer and historian, back on a Zoom Virtual Meeting with his Barlow Trail Memorabilia and Historic Tales of the pioneers

This month marks the 30th anniversary of the Great Flood of 1996, a natural disaster that reshaped the Mount Hood corridor and tested the resolve of communities of the Mount Hood corridor. The winter of 1995–96 had been unsettled from the start. Snowpack was thin through much of December and early January. Then a late-month Arctic blast buried the Cascades under several feet of snow, which turned to ice, setting the stage for what followed. On February 6, a warm Pineapple Exp

John Drake is serving his third year of a four-year term as vice president of the Hoodland Fire District Board Of Directors. He was elected to the volunteer position in May 2023 and took office on July 1 of that year.  He retired after 26 years working as a firefighter for the Portland Fire Bureau. He spent 13 years as a line firefighter and 13 as a fire inspector with the fire marshal’s office.  He believes that being a Hoodland Fire board member and retired firefighter with

With domestic violence numbers on the rise across the United States, many state and local government agencies are taking to their communities to educate, provide resources, and offer support to survivors. Small towns all across the country, including The Mt. Hood Villages, are reaching out to community members in show of support to those who have suffered at the hands of domestic violence. The Hoodland Bazaar, in partnership with Clackamas County Women’s Services, has been of

Let’s face it, folks. February can be a tough month on the mountain. The holidays are officially over, and our lush corner of Oregon is charging up for a green spring with an endless parade of gray, rainy days. Nothing knocks off that cold shroud like a hot, filling breakfast. Maybe that’s why February is National Hot Breakfast Month. For any mountain residents or visitors who want to start their day with a hearty hot breakfast, here are some of The Mountain Times’ favorite o

As an avid lover of the written word, both from my own creativity and that of others, my fellow Mountain Times journalists have given me my very own column to discuss all things books and boy, oh boy, am I excited! A passionate pastime of mine, and  part of my professional life as a book cafe owner, literature has always been the pinnacle of my existence and, by default, my beloved cat, Eleanor’s. So without further ado, I give to you, a brief synopsis of Maggie O’Farrell’s h

Although most artists’ talents are derived from training, education, and hours and hours of practice, for some, it's the absolute desire and drive which gives them the tools, skills, and focus they need to become proficient in their trade. And for Mt. Hood Villages resident and former Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus performer, Mary Beth Ferlo, all of that is true. Born and raised in Portland, Ferlo knew from an early age that dance was her absolute passion. “Be

February is often associated with love, generosity, and showing up for the people and places that matter to us. At AntFarm Youth Services, this season feels especially meaningful as we navigate a challenging moment for community-based organizations across the country, with unique pressures hitting rural communities especially hard. AntFarm started and exists to connect youth, families, and community members to resources, support, and pathways toward stability and empowerment.

As we prepare to embark on another year, the team behind The Mountain Times is prepping for a truly exciting event: the launch of a new publication, The Sandy Standard . This new monthly newspaper will deliver a fresh batch of community-oriented stories focused on the residents of Sandy. In these divisive times, it’s critical to remember that we are all of us more alike than different. Every print edition of The Mountain Times  is a reflection of that comforting truth. The pa

We have several delicious dining options on the mountain, offerings for your tastes or your budget. But few restaurants on the mountain have the same reputation for blending quality and comfort like the Rendezvous Grill.  Original owners Tom and Susie were known far and wide. Tom worked the front and ensured that every customer was satisfied. Meanwhile, Susie spent her time in the kitchen inventing sumptuous delights for lucky diners. When news of their retirement broke, it s

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month — a time to focus on prevention, early detection, and caring for your long-term health. At Orchid Health Hoodland Clinic, we believe proactive, preventive care is one of the most powerful tools we have to keep our community healthy. Cervical cancer is largely preventable when detected early through regular screenings, yet many people delay or skip these important exams. Our Hoodland team is here to change that by providing care that