Marie Kennedy

By Marie Kennedy, The Mountain Times Inside Sandy High School’s gymnasium, evacuees clutched character cards describing medical needs, lost housing, and emergency triage situations as Red Cross volunteers, county staff and chaplains moved between stations in a mock shelter testing how a large wildfire evacuation would stress real-world services in the Sandy-Mount Hood area. Meanwhile, a parallel exercise unfolded over the radio. The two-day drill simulated a Public Safety Power Shutoff...

By Marie Kennedy, The Mountain Times What began as a place for vigils and remembrance after the death of Phoenix Lane is evolving into something larger – a community healing space rooted in spiritual practices, support, and connection. Friends, family members, and community supporters recently gathered at the Hoodland Bazaar, in what is now known as the Phoenix Room in Welches, for an official dedication honoring Phoenix’s legacy and the community response that followed her death. The...

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, performs jazz and...