Sandy Actors Theatre is pleased to announce the second show of their 49th season, Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple (Female Version),” directed by Joni Tabler. The show runs from November 21-December 14, 2025, with tickets available for purchase online at sandyactorstheatre.com or at the door. “The Odd Couple (Female Version)” is based on Simon’s original, The Odd Couple. This adaptation introduces the audience to Olive and Florence, two women whose desperation and loneliness res

Mary Forrest, owner of Forrest Insurance Agency, had been to the Welches School before, thanks to watching her two boys play sports there. But on Tuesday, Oct. 14, Forrest got a much more nuanced look into what goes on during school hours, thanks to the annual Principal for the Day event held in partnership with the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce. “I expected to observe a day in the life of a principal, but I came away with so much more,” she said. “I had no idea just how ful

In November, Tommy Tarrants will enter his tenth year working for The Mountain Times . Tarrants is the person charged with delivering roughly 4,500 newspapers to bars, resorts, hotels, golf courses, and grocery stores between Government Camp and Sandy. Tarrants began his career with The Mountain Times  approximately four owners ago, by his count. He was simply doing a favor for his friend. At that point, the Times  was owned by Larry Berteau. “Larry was delivering the paper h

As immigration continues to be a topic of relentless discussion, it goes without saying that many people are accepting risk and danger to enter countries for better opportunities. Whether it is due to economic crisis, organized crime, or an overall desire to better themselves, refugees continue to risk everything for a chance at a better future. And while many members of our community can say they have experienced this firsthand, a few members of our Mt. Hood Villages family

It isn’t often an entire community can say they have witnessed greatness born. It also isn’t often an entire community can say they witnessed greatness flourish. And it is almost never that an entire community can say they have witnessed greatness become legend. But now, the entire communities of Mt. Hood Villages and Sandy can say, without a doubt, they have been a part of that most unique phenomenon with the life and death of Jeff Flood. Born to Colene and Jeff Flood on J

The Hoodland Women’s Club turned community spirit into celebration this fall, hosting its first Harvest of Hope Gala – a night of good food, live music, and local generosity that raised nearly $14,000 for neighbors in need. When more than 70 guests gathered at Alpine Events on October 4 for the club’s inaugural gala, it wasn’t just an elegant evening – it was a statement of purpose. Beneath the soft lights, live music, and laughter, the community came together to support an o

Summer 2025 marked a peak season for YouthCore crews, filled with steady work, community partnerships, and the kind of growth that happens when purpose meets opportunity. Across the region, youth and young adults ages 14 to 24 cleared brush, maintained trails, supported events, and helped property owners care for the places they love. For these young workers, it is more than a paycheck. It is a chance to gain confidence, learn professionalism, and serve their community with p

We look forward to the beginning of the school year.  Take care when driving to keep all of our children safe. Schools are an important community asset. They provide the physical infrastructure for education from pre-K to Seniors and other community workshop space. Our area does not have a community space as we once had at the Dorman Center. That space for meeting has not been replaced and there is no plan to provide a useful space for the entire community to use. Our hope is

"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

To read more, please check out the latest updated version of this article published in our November edition. On a warm summer morning, the IWAKT Community Garden is alive with color and sound. Tomatoes climb their stakes, bees hum among the blossoms. It’s quiet today, but the squash, berries, pungent herbs, and blooming flowers don’t mind the calm. They are soaking up the sun. Community Garden Board member Lisa Galbraith walks through the garden, pointing out various plots, d

The sound of live music, laughter, and dancing spilled out of Pub 26 in Welches on September 19, as neighbors gathered for Fiesta Latina, an annual event honoring Latino and Hispanic heritage on the mountain. Guests enjoyed food and drink specials courtesy of Pub 26, colorful decorations, and a packed dance floor energized by the lively northern Mexican music of Los Nuevos Palomitos. Raffle prizes from local businesses helped support Mt. Hood Unida’s ongoing programs. Now in

(from L to R): Malika Cox, Julie Lazar, Andrew White, Fran Stier, Cayla Solso, Ryan Ellsworth Folks in the Hoodland area are a pretty insular bunch. Getting to know us is a big job. Fortunately for all of our collective well being, Orchid Health is wrapping up a year of putting in work at their Welches office. Orchid Health was founded 11 years ago in the pursuit of a community-focused  approach to healthcare. Their founders hoped to work alongside communities to foster a hol

The chairs never matched, but it was a comfortable room. A wingback angled beside a few dining room chairs, a love seat pushed against the wall – it looked just like someone’s living room when extra guests were visiting. On a cold night in October 2009, Jon Adams took his place, guitar resting on his lap. No microphone. No stage. Neighbors leaned close, coffee mugs warming their hands. I was there, having brought my mother to see Jon play. The room grew quiet as he started to

Place of birth: Loveland, Colorado How long on the Mountain: five years If you were not brought here as a child, what brought you to the Mountain: I moved here with my ex-husband to buy land and build our dream home. I always wanted to live here, even as a teen –  the PNW is the most beautiful place in the world.  Profession: CEO of Allay Consulting Other professions: I have a few different companies right now and am also the Marketing Committee chair of the Hoodland Wom

Mark your calendar for November 1, 2025, and attend the annual Mt. Hood Cultural Center & Museum’s Heritage Night celebration. This fun event, from 6-9:30 p.m., is being held at the museum in Government Camp. It marks the beginning of winter activities on Mt. Hood and is an opportunity to socialize with old and new friends. You’ll enjoy heavy hors d’ oeuvres, libations (donated by local restaurants and businesses), and participate in winning select raffle prizes, as well as i

Golf Tourney On Saturday, September 6th, the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort put on the 2nd Annual Welches Charity Open Golf Tournament with the proceeds split evenly between the Mt. Hood Lions community disaster relief fund and the Hoodland Senior Center. The weather was perfect. The event was extremely well attended with 20 foursomes participating and we raised $13,000. Our thanks to Porchlight Realty and Philip Carman for their major sponsorship, to Mt. Hood Meadows, The Door Works

Judith Louise Norval, 87, born in Cleveland, Ohio on February 17, 1938, passed peacefully at home in Zig Zag, OR September 10, 2025.   Judith loved art and literature. She volunteered as a docent at the Long Beach Museum of Art while living in Cerritos, CA.  When she and husband Ron retired to Oregon in 1993, she worked as a book and art seller at several establishments, including Wy'east Book Shoppe and Gallery in Welches.  She was an avid reader, played Pinochle, Spite and

Robin Fritsch, a massage therapist at Mountain Life Clinic, was awarded $1,500 to pursue training to help clients with pain management for conditions such as sciatica and whiplash. HWC awards scholarships for continuing education Two Hoodland area residents looking to build their skills were awarded continuing education scholarships totaling $2,400 last month from the HWC Community Fund. Robin Fritsch, a massage therapist at Mountain Life Clinic, was awarded $1,500 to pursue

The staff at Mt. Pizza and Brews have been serving Sandy since May 23. Credit: Brit Allen. In her only four months in business in Sandy, Suzanne Jackson has already made a name for herself, serving up pizza by the slice and a family-oriented space and menu at Mt. Pizza and Brews. Knowing she grew up in the food industry, with her parents running a coffee shop when she was a teen, it’s not too surprising how natural the role of restaurateur is for Jackson.  Jackson and her fat

Aidan DeOliveira always knew he wanted to have a career in public service. He says he wants to do something that helps people and now he’s getting his chance, through the Hoodland Fire District Student Program.   A 2025 Sandy High School graduate, Aidan is on the right track to achieving his ultimate goal of becoming a firefighter-paramedic. He started the two-year program two months ago and has nothing but good things to say about his experience so far. “I love it,” Aidan sa