Clackamas County and Homeless Solutions of Clackamas County are inviting all neighbors to a poignant evening of reflection and remembrance at the annual Longest Night Homeless Persons’ Memorial candlelight vigil. The powerful gathering is set for December 21st in Oregon City , intentionally held on the first day of winter—the longest night of the year—to honor the memory of those in our homeless community who tragically lost their lives over the past year. Last year's ceremo

Hello Mountain Times Readers, My name is Amanda and I’m the fundraising chair volunteer of Sandy High Music Foundation and a Sandy High parent. SHMF is a nonprofit parent volunteer group supporting the music program of Sandy High School. We are not affiliated with the Oregon Trail School District. This year, our fundraising goal is a new piano! 12/10 is the High School Winter Band concert 12/17 is the High School Choirs concert! Each night we will have a silent auction an

Hello, Welches Families! November was a wonderful month filled with community and holiday spirit! Students and their families joined us for an engaging morning of learning and treats at our Music, Math, and Muffins event — our largest turnout yet with 148 guests. We also kicked off our annual Wreath Sale Fundraiser with Welches Mountain Building Supply. Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far! Wreaths remain available for purchase at the hardware store while supplie

I confess: As a teenager, I occasionally avoided paying campsite fees by leaving early in the morning before the rangers could stop by to demand payment. Hey, I was 16 years old and making $1.80 per hour at a restaurant, and $3 a night seemed like a lot of dough. (on the other hand, I was more than willing to pay $1.99 for a 12 pack of Lucky Lager beer in 11-ounce bottles. Don’t ask how I got them.) Okay, I cheated. I apologize. Since then I’ve been a good citizen and paid fe

I read a recent news article by Melissa Busch about a quirky donation made to a Salvation Army Red Kettle in Arizona. Every year, you can always count on the familiar Big Red Kettle outside retail shops with someone happily ringing a little holiday bell reminding every one of us about the Salvation Army’s support of those in need. Well, for the second time in recent years, a gold tooth was donated into the Red Kettle! This may sound weird, a bit gross, and a curious choice

The holiday season settles over the Mountain communities in a way that feels both magical and demanding. Between the early nightfall, the cold damp air rolling in off the forest, and the pressure to “fit everything in,” many of us feel our bodies tightening up long before the snow really starts to fall. Even when we love this season, our nervous systems often get overwhelmed — especially here in the foothills of Mt. Hood, where winter asks a little more from our bodies. Your

Last week I was in Uncertain, Texas - yes, that’s the real name, supposedly chosen because nobody was certain what to call the town when the first maps were drawn – co-leading my annual photography workshop at Caddo Lake. After four years of visiting, the place has become familiar, but never ordinary. The bayou stretches out in a maze of slow, still, dark water, lined with ancient bald cypress trees draped in long strands of Spanish moss. It’s a world that feels half-wild

The holidays bring rich food, decorations, guests, and travel. They also bring a spike in preventable emergencies. A little planning goes a long way toward keeping dogs and cats safe and comfortable through Thanksgiving and Christmas. Kitchen and table risks Rich, fatty foods can trigger pancreatitis, a painful and sometimes serious inflammation of the pancreas. Keep pets away from turkey skin, gravy, ham trimmings, prime rib fat, and buttery sides. Do not give cooked bones.

Trillium Lake has long been a popular destination in the Mt. Hood National Forest, drawing thousands of visitors each year for its calm waters and uninterrupted views of Oregon’s tallest peak. This fall, the popular 1.9-mile trail reopened in full for the first time in several years after a multi-season effort to rebuild deteriorating sections of the Trillium Lake Boardwalk. Multiple stretches of the boardwalk, originally built in the early 1990s, had reached the end of their

As SNAP benefits are finally becoming accessible to those in need of assistance after the longest government shutdown in American history, The Mt. Hood Villages community became a light to so many during what felt like a very dark time for those in need. Stepping up to the plate, many neighbors and local businesses began to not only fill designated food pantries, but created new ones in different locations accessible 24/7. Businesses such as Mogul Mountain Pizza, Mount Hood

When people learned of Susan “Phoenix” Lane’s disappearance last November, the mountain community was shaken, even more so when she was found murdered eight days later on Nov. 29, and her husband Michel Fournier was taken into custody. Unfortunately, it wasn’t because something like this has never happened on the mountain, but because of what Lane was to so many — a mother, a sister, a friend. Dozens of people joined the search to look for her, adamant that she wasn’t a “mi

For nearly 30 years, Jamie Simpson has hiked into the local forests in search of edible treasures. Over that time, he’s gathered countless chanterelles, hedgehogs, and lobsters. This mushroom season has been different, though. Fewer finds and a busier schedule has left him low on returns. On Sunday, November 16, however, that tough run ended when Simpson hauled in an enormous cauliflower mushroom. This rare species of mushroom typically weighs about two pounds. The big boys t

For nearly 50 years, Brightwood resident Nathan Mills has lived with an imbalance. At birth, his right leg was shorter than his left. And even after surgeries in his youth to keep his left leg from outgrowing his right, Mills was left with a four-inch difference between the two. This has required creativity — such as specially lifted shoes — and years of pain management. Even so, Mills operates with a very positive mentality in his daily life, choosing to “focus on the thin

Christmas Toy Drive Dinner! “POLAR EXPRESS” We hope you’ll come out to this year's Christmas Toy Drive Dinner and make it the best ever! The dinner will be held Saturday December 6th. Happy Hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner served at 6:00 p.m., price at the door is $30.00.Special presale tickets are available for $25.00 at Welches Clackamas County Bank, Welches Mountain Building Supply, Coffee , The Brightwood Tavern, Mt. Hood Cannabis, and the Whistle Stop Tavern. Lion Ch

Name : Leslie Stockdale Place of Birth : St Helens, Oregon How long on the Mountain : 38 years (6 months after we got married) If you were not brought here as a child, what brought you to the Mountain : Definitely as a child, we used the old Ivy Bear as the icon of We’re Almost there, usually heading to Lost Lake for summer vacation Profession : Customer Service (DG 4 years) Other professions: OTSD custodian for 12 years Maid Service at the Resort for 9 years And Thri

For the first time in several years, the Resort hosted a Halloween event for kids of all ages on Friday, October 31. The doors opened at 6:00 p.m. and while there was a slow start (in part because folks were finishing up attending the long-time mountain tradition, Spooky Alley), things really began in earnest a short time thereafter. Games, vendors, food, beverages, and live music together with an extremely accommodating staff made for a most enjoyable evening. The Mountain T

Head Coach Leah McMahon builds the Mt. Hood Community College women's basketball program around more than skill. Her approach extends beyond the court to emphasize effort, teamwork, and a love for the game. With a roster made up mostly of freshmen, the players grow together as they balance academics with competition and find meaning in the work that strengthens them as a team. The team plays with intensity and pride, built on a foundation of effort, focus and defense. Every p

What’s your passion? At the Hoodland Women’s Club’s monthly meeting Nov. 10 at the Rendezvous Grill, members sat at tables designated for women who love books, nature and hiking, or gardening. Together, they discovered new hiking trails, gardening tips for our mountain growing zone, good reads, and new friends. “Meeting other mountain ladies across all walks of life and in various life stages, feeling welcome and included in our local mountain community, and ongoing opportuni

Get ready for a new restaurant coming soon to the Mountain. Mt. Hood Village Deli and Sweets is set to open in the Mt. Hood Village RV Resort right off Highway 26 in Welches. Mother and daughter owners Alexis McElheran and Kelley Jee are thrilled to be adding another restaurant option for locals. The long-time Mt. Hood residents are hard at work making repairs and sprucing up the space in advance of their opening. The anticipation is palpable and contagious. “I know people a

While actual fishing techniques and concepts like reading water are key to successful angling, I've found several factors that can affect a trip. These may be obvious to some, but I've neglected them on various trips. They apply to every fishery in varying degrees, and can hinder the experience if not considered. Outdoor Apparel The first factor is proper clothing and outdoor gear. Shivering between casts is a sure fire way to regret going in the first place. You don’t need t