In late December 1964, as the Mountain was preparing for Christmas, the weather in the upper Sandy River valley began to shift quickly. A warm Chinook wind swept into the region, accompanied by days of heavy rain, melting a deep early-winter snowpack, while frozen ground prevented the water from soaking in. Creeks rose first, then the rivers. By the time people realized how serious it was, the water was already moving fast and carrying things with it — logs, boulders, and ent

The call came through and the question was simple: were we interested? Why, yes. Yes we were! There was going to be an Irish festival in Boston, and we’d been invited to perform. The festival was supposed to have it all: plenty of music on several stages, Celtic dancers, vendors, specialty foods, events for children. They’d cover airfare and accommodations, which was standard, plus a nice check at the end of the day. Big names from Ireland and Scotland were flying in from bot

This past May, local voters passed a $19.1 million dollar bond measure to help build a new fire station for the Hoodland Fire District. They also elected retired attorney Kirk Peterson, a strong advocate for the bond measure, to fill a vacancy on the board of directors. A member of the fire district budget committee since 2019, Peterson looks like a good fit for Hoodland. The newest director on the board has a handle on the issues facing the fire district.  “After retiring as

“I technically got first place,” junior Rory Mason said, regarding her first swim meet of the 25-26 school year. “It was a really small meet, so I was the only person in the 100 I.M. category.” Despite being the only competitor in her category, Mason didn’t feel too unaccomplished. This is because Mason doesn’t find her motivation in what she places; instead, she focuses on improving her time between meets and bonding with her teammates.   “I like that in swim, you can measur

Art can come in a variety of different mediums, but it’s usually the nonconformists that deliver the most unique and moving pieces. Different stroke angles with a brush or glasses melted into a rainbow of colors, even fire breathing life into creativity, an artists’ world is filled with unending mediums and for Mt. Hood Villages local and artist, Damien Weisgerber, all of that rings true. A recent Portland transplant, Weisgerber is no stranger to The Mt. Hood Villages. Born a

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.

Last week I attended my 20-year dental school reunion in Boston. It’s still a bit crazy for me to accept that 20 years have flown by since I graduated from dental school. I spent a few days in Boston strolling down a nostalgic memory lane.   In addition to seeing old classmates and visiting old stomping grounds in the city, I got a chance to visit my old school and attend a class by my old Operative Dentistry professor.  He was the best professor at the school and he is still

The holiday season has a way of creeping up on us. One moment we’re admiring the last of the fall colors, and the next we’re knee-deep in to-do lists, gift wrapping, and blinking lights. It’s a season meant for connection, but it can easily become one of exhaustion. This year, I’ve been thinking about how important it is to protect our mental health by slowing down and savoring the moments that really matter. Working hard is a beautiful thing — it gives life structure and pur

Who are we as a community? We may not be incorporated towns, but we have an identity  nonetheless - one built on shared history, hard work, and the unique beauty of this place we call home. Our story is one that’s been passed down through generations, and it continues to grow with every person who puts down roots here.  A community that remembers its past has an identity. A community with an identity has  pride. And pride leads to protection - protection of the forests, river

Cats have a way of inserting themselves into whatever we’re doing. If you’ve ever made a bed with a cat in the room, you know it becomes a full-contact sport. They leap onto the sheets just as you’re smoothing them out, tunnel under the comforter, and eventually sit proudly in the center like they’ve helped. They climb into boxes before you’ve even unpacked them, and they treat the items on your nightstand as if they're part of a science experiment. What starts off as a styli

Name: Julie Frederick-Todd Place of birth: Scobey, Montana How long on the Mountain: 1990 - short break from 1995 to 1997, then back again. If you were not brought here as a child, what brought you to the Mountain: My sister brought me to the mountain. Back in the late 70s we went to Parkrose and skied as teenagers. She was on the ski team and ended up coaching at Cooper Spur and working at Timberline Lodge for 20 years. Everyone who skied the mountain knew Camille for h

Just Rum’s cocktail menu often includes some seasonal choices. We’ve all been there: dragged down the rabbit hole by curiosity over some random topic we find fascinating, whether it’s Wikipedia-ing your favorite artist’s life story or searching the depths of the internet for that discontinued product you have to have. For John Hasbrouck, his rabbit hole was the history of rum, and from that deep dive came the award-winning business: Just Rum. According to his master distiller

Basketball player Michael Jordan was cut from his school’s basketball team his sophomore year, the New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony was cut from his high school team, and Lena Smith was cut from her 4th grade basketball team. Smith, unlike Jordan and Anthony, did not go on to play basketball. Instead, as a freshman on Sandy High School’s Varsity Volleyball team, she placed second at nationals.  After being cut in fourth grade, Smith’s PE teacher offered her a spot on the voll

A resident of The Mt. Hood Villages since the age of three, musician Lisa Page has been an instrumental part in the delightful sounds, education, and melodies of the community for the last 37 years. Inspired by her mother’s own piano skills, Page became a student of music at age six. “My mom always played and it just seemed like that is what you do when you grow up,” Page said. “There were artists that I loved and wanted to make music like. I like playing percussively while c

"A walk in nature walks the soul back home."  – Henry David Thoreau In our digital world, it’s all too easy to spend hours scrolling social media, binge-watching shows, or getting lost in online distractions. While these activities can be entertaining, they often keep us sedentary — and our bodies (and minds) pay the price. Physical movement is not just about fitness; it’s about improving your overall quality of life. Research shows that regular activity can boost mood, incre

Mount Hood’s summit is a familiar sight for everyone who calls The Mountain their home. It’s the backdrop to our lives, a landmark that feels unchanging. Yet in geologic terms, Mount Hood is anything but quiet. Beneath the snow and glaciers lies the record of eruptions that reshaped the mountain and altered the valleys where we live. The story of Mount Hood stretches back roughly half a million years. Like the other great peaks of the Cascades, it rose where the Juan de Fuca