The creation of art is typically demonstrated with brush strokes, camera flashes, and pencil markings, but to local herbalist Cari Gesch, turning art into a verb involves a plethora of plants, herbs, and passion incorporated into one glorious adventure of health and healing. A resident of The Mt. Hood Villages for the last 13 years, Gesch has immersed herself into the culture that is living in a mountain town, mere miles from a national forest with an abundance of the materia

The mornings are becoming crisp in Sandy, and nothing feels more welcoming than the smell of coffee and fresh baked goods at the AntFarm Café & Bakery. For more than ten years, the café has been part of local life, serving meals and drinks that not only nourish customers but also support the youth and family programs of AntFarm. From vision to gathering place Construction began and the café opened in 2013. Youth and volunteers helped strip floors, polish wood, and bring the v

Twice a year, the Hoodland Senior Center delivers emergency food boxes to all local Meals on Wheels participants, helping to ensure older adults are ready for the unexpected. The emergency food boxes contain non-perishable items like canned meats, hearty soups, grains, and bottled water, items seniors can rely on when roads are impassable or services are disrupted. From winter power outages to wildfire evacuations, living in a rural community means that we need to be prepared

Andrew White, PA-C, will be departing his role as a Primary Care Provider at the  Hoodland Clinic this fall. Andrew’s last day will be October 20, 2025, as he and his family prepare to relocate out of state. Andrew joined Orchid Health in 2017, and for the past eight years has been an integral part of both patient care and the growth of Orchid’s organization. His thoughtful, compassionate, and dedicated approach has touched thousands of patients. “While we are sad to see Andr

Every year, tourists flock to the area, spend their money and soak up the natural beauty. They’re drawn in no small part by the splendor of the Sandy River, a tributary that runs like a lifeline through the Hoodland area. What most locals have forgotten and what newcomers may not know is that our peaceful corner of the Pacific Northwest was nearly destroyed thirty years ago. It was preserved only after a years-long battle fought by a handful of passionate supporters. Deb Scri

HWC members enjoyed a shady picnic together on a hot afternoon Tuesday, Aug. 11 at Wildwood. New club officers talked about plans for fundraising and community action in the upcoming year.The HWC craft group had its handmade crafts on display and for sale.   Meet the HWC Craft Group at the Hoodland Block party this month  The HWC craft group’s products will be on sale again this month at the Hoodland Block Party on Saturday, September 6th at Cooper’s Wine Bar in the Hoodland

A complicated quilt can take more than a year to finish. You need to find the right fabric, match and cut the pieces, sew them together, add the middle layer (that’s called batting!) and then add a back layer. Next, a talented craftsperson can stitch an intricate pattern along the cover. To complete, binding is sewn to close the edges. In other words, it takes time. And, for a group of people who meet at the local Lutheran church, time spent quilting is time best spent in the

For four years, Mt. Hood Hospice has recognized those — Vietnam veterans, their family members and the people of Vietnam — impacted by Agent Orange with a small but meaningful ceremony around Agent Orange Awareness Day.  The nationally recognized day, August 10, commemorates the anniversary of the first time the herbicide Agent Orange was used as a weapon of war in Vietnam in 1961. Mt. Hood Hospice outreach and volunteer coordinator Jolie Phanton led the ceremony on Monday, A

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

Don’t let the name fool you. There’s rarely a dull moment at the Boring Brewing Co. in Sandy. Oh the irony. There’s always something to do at this handcrafted brewpub, where locals and visitors alike make a pint-stop for a cold one on their way to and from Mount Hood. Brewmaster Bill Schwartz and his wife Kelly bought Boring Brewing in 2017 when it was located in the small town of its origin – Boring. They kept the name in 2018 when they moved the brewing company to Sandy, it

Jon Tullis in the studio. Music has always been part of life on this mountain – written, played, and shared across generations. Indigenous peoples told stories in song; pioneers carried fiddles and guitars along the Oregon Trail. As communities grew, dance halls, churches, and lodges rang with music – proof that Mount Hood has always had a soundtrack. This is the first piece in a series exploring our local music – its history, what’s happening now, and the people who shaped i

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

Saturday, August 16, dawned bright and gorgeous at the scenic Boring campus of Guide Dogs for the Blind, as the organization paid tribute to more than 100 aspiring guide dogs and over 300 puppy raisers as part of its annual Fun Day celebration. “[Fun Day] is a day of recognition, fun, education, food, and love for our puppy-raising volunteers,” said Summer McCormick, Guide Dog for the Blind’s Puppy Raising Engagement Manager. While you might expect a massive group of dogs to

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

Although living on Mt. Hood offers endless opportunities for outdoor recreation and play, there are other ways community members can find a creative outlet and one of those is local paint nights hosted by Mt. Hood Villages resident Meg Eaton.  Hosting these paint nights in the community since 2022, Eaton has become an artistic staple and instructor with her ever-growing, ever-popular paint nights held at various locations within the Villages. Hosting at places such as The Whi