With all the crazy (and worse) news these days, you may not know that there’s actually been some good news. On June 24, the Washington State Department of Agriculture banned the sale and distribution of English ivy and its cousin Atlantic (or Boston) ivy. Oregon prohibited the sale of English ivy in 2010. Why? Forests choked with ivy is why — along Highway 26 and Barlow Trail Road between Tim Rim and Brightwood, for example, where tree trunks are covered with ivy. Not only ca

While many people throughout the country view summer as the season of vacations, rest, and relaxation, many Mt. Hood Villages residents are feeling the exact opposite. Tourism is a prevalent and important part of the economy from Sandy to Government Camp, with most residents in the corridor having careers in the service industry. Pile on the added traffic and extreme number of visitors in such small areas, and the overwhelming feelings of financial success and mental and phys

If you were to ask any staff member or contributor of The Mountain Times if he or she felt much like an artist with their work on the paper, I’m sure the grit and grind of the industry would encourage a resounding “no.” And while the act of journalism, investigative reporting, and ad development take their creative mindset to an artistic level with the maneuvering of words, shapes, and colors, one of our team members goes above and beyond the call of artist, not just with his

Pat and Griffin McAbery. In the McAbery family, firefighting runs in the bloodlines. It’s part of the family DNA. Griffin McAbery, 22, became  Hoodland Fire District’s first third-generation firefighter, carrying on the legacy started by his grandfather. Griffin was hired part-time as a seasonal firefighter with the district, founded in 1966. Decades ago, Griffin’s grandfather, Dick, served on the fire district’s board of directors, setting the stage as the first generation M

Place of Birth?  Portland, OR. How long on the Mountain?  79 years. If you were not brought here as a child, what brought you to the Mountain? Grandfather built a cabin on the Salmon River in 1927. We visited every year. Profession? Happily retired . Other Professions? Manager of a Garden Center. Owner of Hoodland Fuel (Oil Distributor) and Merit Properties (Real Estate Brokerage). Worked several positions at Bowman’s Resort 1961-67. Favorite movie and/or musical?   Shawshank

Let’s take a minute and give a rousing round of applause to the Hoodland Library, currently celebrating its tenth anniversary at their Welches location! In the digital age, a segment of society believes that local libraries have outlived their usefulness. That couldn’t be further from the truth, especially for the people who live and work in the Mt. Hood area. Over the past decade at its Welches location (and in the decades prior), the Hoodland Library has proven an indispens

I’ve been wary of social media and our addiction to smart phones for a while now, as more and more evidence has come out over the years of its effects on people and society as a whole.  In fact, so much so that I think I am the only parent that I know of that has not gotten a phone for his kids yet.  This of course is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain as my kids get older: I will have to succumb to finally breaking down soon with my oldest who will be entering high s

Nestled within the heart of Sandy is a quiet garden space blooming with fresh energy and purpose. Made possible by a generous land use donation from the Leathers Family, the Sandy Youth Garden is part of AntFarm Youth Services’ Outdoor Learning program. It’s a living classroom where youth, staff, volunteers, and families come together to grow food, steward the land, and cultivate connection.  Under the leadership of AntFarm team member and local farmer Carson Krause, the gard