By Marie Kennedy, The Mountain Times At first glance, the 16-year-old Mount Hood-area student appears quiet and unassuming. Sitting in a local coffee shop beside his mother, Rebecca, he speaks softly about music, school, and ongoing work around the family’s home. Beneath that calm demeanor is a young musician performing advanced classical repertoire, studying college-level theory, and preparing for a future in professional music. Charan studies classical violin and trumpet, p

By Marie Kennedy, The Mountain Times Residents in the Mount Hood area will have a chance to help shape transportation priorities in Clackamas County for the next 20 years during an open house in Welches. Clackamas County will host an East County Transportation System Plan open house from 5 to 6:30 p.m. June 18 in the Trees Room at Mt. Hood Oregon Resort. The event is co-hosted by the Hoodland CPO and will include Spanish interpreters on site. The meeting is part of the county

By Blake Miller, For The Mountain Times There’s something special about the bond between pets and older adults. Research has shown that owning a cat or dog can actually benefit seniors’ health in many ways. First and foremost, pets encourage routine. Whether it’s walking a dog or feeding a cat at the same time each day, structure can be grounding. Routine helps reduce feelings of loneliness and gives a sense of purpose, something to look forward to every day. Beyond routine,

By Dr. Robert Kelly, For The Mountain Times In my last few articles I talked about the sports stars and pop culture celebrities who were in the news recently with tooth mishaps. Another funny story to tell involved a movie star with a dental problem in real life …and that problem was conveniently written into the script as part of the storyline. A while back, there was a movie called “The Hangover.” It was wildly successful and spawned sequels. The story was about a group

By Steve Wilent, For The Mountain Times While the world has its collective eyes on war, politics, and “artificial intelligence,” human researchers around the world are making astounding discoveries about forests and forest products that may have positive impacts on our lives. Two examples involve plastics made from wood and other renewable resources. First, from The Korea Times: “Korean researchers have discovered a way to transform common forest debris into a key ingredient

SAVE THE DATE July 19, 2026 St. John in the Woods Catholic Church 24905 E Woodsey Way, Welches Celebrating 100 Years in Welches Please join us as we gather to honor the generations who built our parish beginning with the early settlers in the Mt. Hood Corridor who sought to establish a place of worship and community gathering. Over the last 100 years, St. John’s has been intertwined with the history of Welches, playing a significant role in the spiritual and social life of t

By Andrea O’Neil, For The Mountain Times Wildfire mitigation requirements tied to insurance and future building standards are becoming increasingly important in the Hoodland area, and over the last year I have been working to prepare both myself and my customers for what may be ahead. Like many people, I initially thought much of the concern had subsided when the State of Oregon walked back the original wildfire hazard maps. However, after being contacted by a customer last y

By Ty Walker, The Mountain Times Jackson Rogers said he thanks the Hoodland Volunteer Firefighter Training Academy for helping him land a job with the U.S. National Forest Service fighting wildfires. Jackson started his new job last month as a crew member assigned to Engine 312 from Mount Hood National Forest. “I’ve always wanted to fight wildfires,” he said. “Going through the Hoodland Academy gave me my certifications for wildfire that I needed and that’s what helped me get

By Pat Erdenberger, For The Mountain Times Most of you know that the mission of the Hoodland Community Planning Organization (HCPO) is to bring County information to our Hoodland community members. Our goal is to provide a resounding voice back to the County. We also provide speaking opportunities of interest to the community. The Hoodland Community Planning Organization Community Meeting will be held June 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the Mt Hood Oregon Resort. This is a public meetin

By Douglas Lyon MD, For The Mountain Times The following is to inform the Mt. Hood Community that I will no longer work for Orchid Health as a Family Physician in Welches. I am grateful for the chance to have been able to serve my community and to follow two beloved physicians, Dr. Grice and Dr. Epstein – both outspoken physicians with compassion, commitment, and vision go the extra mile for their patients and their community. Over my year of working in the community I had a

By Lion Milt Fox Thank you for attending our Swimming Lessons dinner, held on Saturday May 2nd. What a great Mexican dinner! We had a nice turnout of 125 customers, with lots of kids attending, who enjoyed the Piñatas. The dinner was chaired by Lions Craig Calvert and Nolberto Perez, along with Norberto’s wife Benita and a crew of hard working Lions.Thanks to Mountain Building Supply, Welches Clackamas County Bank, Brightwood Tavern, Mt. Hood Cannabis, Coffee House 26, and t

By Malika Cox, for The Mountain Times The warmer months are upon us, generously gifting us with bountiful sunshine! It’s that time of year where the daylight sticks around longer and provides an opportunity to soak in all that the mountain has to offer outdoors. One of the most fascinating aspects of living in this community is the historically significant footprints that are sprinkled all around us, silently existing as a subtle reminder of times from long ago. Why not get o

By Rep. Jeff Helfrich, For The Mountain Times For years, as Oregonians we have heard the phrase, “Don’t die in Oregon.” It gets a laugh sometimes, but it’s a very real concern shared by farmers, small business owners, and families across our state. Our estate tax has become badly outdated, and more people are being caught up in it every year. For those who don’t know, Oregon taxes estates valued over $1 million — one of the lowest thresholds in the nation — even though home v

By Cassie Kanable, For The Mountain Times Hello Welches Families! As another school year wound down, May was packed with celebration, community, and appreciation at Welches Schools. One of the highlights of the month was Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, where we had the opportunity to recognize the incredible people who support our students every day. Staff enjoyed pastries and coffee from Mt. Hood Roasters, a taco lunch from Los Venados Mexican Grill, charcuterie boxes and

By Marie Kennedy, The Mountain Times Residents in the Mount Hood area will have a chance to help shape transportation priorities in Clackamas County for the next 20 years during an open house in Welches. Clackamas County will host an East County Transportation System Plan open house from 5 to 6:30 p.m. June 18 in the Trees Room at Mt. Hood Oregon Resort. The event is co-hosted by the Hoodland CPO and will include Spanish interpreters on site. The meeting is part of the county

Mt Hood Folks get 25% off tickets - use code - NWWRF25 - in your shopping cart or at the gate. The original Oregon Roots Reggae event at the best reggae site in Oregon. The festival brings a weekend of Heavy Roots to our stages this year. With Reggae Legends from Jamaica, Virgin Island, Spain, Belize and Greece and rising stars from Jamaica, Northern Cheyenne, California, Oregon and Washington, it is going to be a great weekend. The site features; green grass, sandy soil(no