Hood River Community Advantage Magazine December 2022

Shopping Hood River

As the temperature drops and the chance for cold, blustery days increases, Hood River promises a warm, welcoming spirit, especially among the hardworking businesses that make up this dynamic community.

While it’s expected that people will do some of their shopping via online mega stores, please remember how important it remains to shop locally, in person or even online.

Did you know that more money stays in the local economy when you support a neighborhood business? Experts estimate approximately $68 for every $100 stays in the community — compared to $43 with national chains. With every local purchase, you’re helping create jobs for teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other essential workers. Buying locally also means more money for area services and city improvement projects.

Shopping locally also means cultivating a unique community. Just as people don’t want their houses to look like everyone else’s, why would you want your city to look that way?

When you patronize area businesses, you’re also helping the environment

by conserving energy and resources through less fuel and packaging.

One of the best reasons to shop locally remains the expertise and customer service unmatched by online behemoths. Because these owners and managers most likely live in Hood River, they are more apt, more invested to make sure customers are satisfied.

Lastly, by supporting local business, you’re helping sustain Hood River as a destination. We all know how this part of the Gorge attracts visitors from around the world. Let’s keep it that way by maintaining the energy that comes from our local economy.

Born and raised in Hood River, I know how special this city is and am always so excited to share it with visitors, welcoming them with the warmth and colorful community that defines Hood River.

Now, let’s go shopping!

Sincerely,

Shelley Zeman Hood River Community Advantage Magazine

PS: If you have a business that serves residents in the local area and would like to partner with us to reach everyone in Hood River and The Dalles, please give me a call at 541-490-3608.

Published by Active Media Publishing Group PO Box 672 · Aurora, OR 97002 info@ActiveMediaUSA.com 503.825.2111

ADMINISTRATION

Matthew Nelson, Publisher Catrina Nelson, CFO

Tara Weidman, Executive Assistant Donovan Darling, Content Manager

PRODUCTION

Jeremy Okai Davis, Art Director

Stacy Benner, Sr. Graphic Designer Holly Darling, Sr. Graphic Designer

Shawn Schmidt, Sr. Graphic Designer Hilary Berg, Sr. Graphic Designer

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Tyler Francke Dennis McNabb David Bates Robert Matsumura Patti Jo Brooks Olive Gallagher Angie Helvey Sherry Dorn

CONTRIBUTING

ADVERTISING SPECIALISTS

BY HENRY SCHIFTER

Looking to reach local consumers? We specialize in direct mail products: community magazine advertising, mailing inserts, postcards and more. For more information, call 503.825.2111 or email info@ActiveMediaUSA.com Check out all our local publications and direct mail products at communityadvantagemagazines.com

COVER PHOTO

From Tepatitlán with Love

El Puerto de Angeles III delights with mouthwatering Mexican cuisine

By Angie Helvey, Contributing Writer Photos by Henry Schifter

There are many aspects to love about Hood River, whether it’s the gorgeous views of Mount Hood, windsurfing on the beach, beer and wine tasting, exploring the quaint small-town shops, or the fantastic dining options. Just ask Erik Lopez, owner and operator of El Puerto De Angeles III. Originally from Tepatitlán in Jalisco, Mexico, Erik moved to Hood River and purchased the restaurant, then called El Tapatio, from the previous owner who came from the same Mexican hometown. Erik opened El Puerto De Angeles III in January 2008 and has been serving up the most delicious, authentic Mexican cuisine in town ever since.

The menu at El Puerto De Angeles III has a huge variety of classic Mexican dishes, all homemade recipes with high-quality, fresh ingredients. The Big Boy Platters are a popular item, especially ones that include the carne asada (juicy, flavorful charbroiled skirt steak), which can be paired with camarones (succulent prawns cooked either a la diabla — deviled — or al mojo de ajo — infused with garlic butter), chicken, or classic choices like enchiladas, tacos, tamales, and chile relleno. The seafood plates are also a customer favorite, offering lots of tasty selections such as pescado frito (whole fried fish cooked to perfection and served on a bed of lettuce, garnished with tomatoes, onions, and avocado slices, accompanied by rice, beans, and tortillas), raw oysters on the half shell, and more than 10 different shrimp dishes.

Customers can peruse the extensive menu and choose whatever strikes their fancy, such as chicken, steak, and pork entrées, as well as fajitas, enchiladas, burritos, soups, salads,

combination plates, and a large selection of vegetarian options. And don’t forget to save room for dessert. They serve everything from fried ice cream and creamy flan to crispy sopapillas and apple chimichangas

Erik crafts a fantastic margarita and El Puerto De Angeles III has plenty of other cocktail options as well. “We make micheladas, palomas, and we also have different flavors of margaritas: peach, kiwi, blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, huckleberry, and prickly pear,” Erik says. More choices are available via the extensive cocktail menu, and a great beer and wine selection is also available, including crisp and refreshing Mexican beer.

Erik strives to maintain a comfortable, family-friendly atmosphere and El Puerto De Angeles III has a slew of local regulars. Customer service is his highest priority, and that’s what keeps people coming back, as well as the mouthwatering food.

Whether you’re a local looking for a new spot or a visitor making your way through the Columbia Gorge, stop by El Puerto De Angeles III to try the best Mexican fare in Hood River. Enjoy a hot, authentic Mexican meal inside, or take your icy margarita out on the patio if the weather is nice.

El Puerto De Angeles III is located at 1306 12th St. in Hood River. View their menu and order online at puertodeangeles3. com, or give them a call at (541) 308-0005. They’re open 10:30 am to 8:30 pm, six days a week, and Wednesday 4:30 to 8:30 pm.

Running Strong

Serving Hood River Since 1960

By Patti Jo Brooks, Contributing Writer

Did you know your local Les Schwab Tire Center has served the Hood River community since 1960? And that it’s the seventh store Les Schwab ever built? With history like that, it’s no wonder people look to the familiar red and yellow logo when they need new tires. And it doesn’t stop there. Les Schwab offers additional tire services to keep you safe on the road, as well as brakes, wheels, alignments, shocks, and batteries. They specialize in servicing commercial vehicles too!

Located just south of I-84 off Exit 62, Hood River’s Les Schwab is headed up by manager Mark Russell who’s been with Les Schwab for 29 years. Come spring, Mark will be celebrating 15 of those years at the Hood River store.

As severe weather hits the Gorge, Mark’s focus is on customer safety. Mark says, “My philosophy — and I was raised pretty old school — is that I personally will do anything and everything I can to make sure everybody’s completely safe on the road.” He adds, “We’re coming in early, and staying as late as we can to take care of every customer who walks through. Obviously, first responders don’t wait. They come in, and we take care of them.”

Just in time for winter, Hood River’s Les Schwab Tire Center completed a major remodel at their location and moved into the new space in early November. The bays, which had been outside and exposed to the brutal winter weather of the Gorge — known for freezing temperatures, wind, rain, and snowing sideways — now occupy four highly-efficient heated indoor areas. In addition, customers will be pleased with the new open

and inviting office setup. “When all is said and done,” Mark says, “it’ll be a night and day difference for the customers and the crew.”

As a manager and a person, Mark genuinely appreciates every member of his crew; many had come onboard even before he did. One of Mark’s duties as manager is hiring. He may look for an individual with some mechanical experience, but it’s not a requirement. “Les Schwab’s a different kind of company — it’s that simple,” he explains. “We like to teach and train people based on the foundation of what Les created in 1952.” The goal is to hire people who possess those old-school qualities. “When I interview someone, I look for character and an outgoing personality,” Mark states clearly. “Attitude is everything. How you approach your job, your customers, and your whole life.” Mark talks of the importance of his crew, that they are his “backbone.” He stresses that the crew is his top priority, and as such, these highly-valued, quality individuals will take better care of the customers by making them a top priority.

Mark sought out Les Schwab as a second career following his time in the Air Force National Guard, where he was hired as a civil servant to work full time on military airplanes. Coming from a family of “Les Schwab people,” he couldn’t help but consider the retirement benefits and long-term career opportunities the company had to offer. “People thought I was about half crazy to go from working on jets to changing tires,” he says and chuckles.

When Mark’s not “changing tires,” his No. 1 hobby is hunting and fishing. Hobby No. 2 is raising cattle on the side just for fun. However, family comes “very” first, he points out. Mark and his wife, Shawna, have called Hood River home for the last 15 years now. “I love it here,” he affirms. “I try to be involved with all the local community activities, especially schools.” Mark attends and donates to silent auctions for the schools, 4-H, and FFA. He’s all about supporting the community. “It’s not about the advertising,” he says candidly. “I want to give back to the community, because they give to me.”

Les Schwab Tire Center in Hood River is located at 3140 Cascade Ave. Call them at (541) 386-1123 or visit their website at lesschwab.com/stores/or/hood-river, where you’ll see Mark greeting you mid-page! Regular hours of operation are Monday–Friday, 8am–6pm and Saturday, 8am–5pm.

Manager Mark Russell

By Donovan Darling, Staff Writer

Klaus (2019)

A SpanishAmerican movie written and directed by Spaniard Sergio Pablos, this is a wonderful alternate origin story of Santa Claus. In the movie, Klaus is a reclusive toymaker living in a fictitious 19th-century island town in the Far North who’s befriended by a mail man misfortunately stationed there. The animations are slick and fantastical, the characters well-voiced and sympathetic, and in this moody yet romantic world a heartfelt mystery unfolds. And the movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the first animated Netflix film to ever be nominated. Starring Jason Schwartzman, J. K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Will Sasso, Norm Macdonald, Joan Cusack, and more. This is a newer must see for the whole family. Rated PG.

Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

One of my all time favorites, this Ron Howard flick stars Jim Carrey in yet another “how did he do that?” stellar performance. Based on and expanding from the book,

this movie brilliantly recreates the Who world in all its magic, humor, and whimsy. We learn the Grinch’s new origin story as a bullied child who retreats to his mountain cave, and many years later he returns as he’s nominated to be the Holiday Cheermeister. A classic Us vs. Them, it’s also a tale of love, inclusion, community, and redemption, and a lovely expansion from the original movie and book. This star-studded cast also includes Taylor Momsen, Christine Baranski, Molly Shannon, Jeffrey Tambor, Bill Irwin, and more. A classic movie that’s great for the whole family. Rated PG.

Jingle All the Way (1996)

Produced and co-written by Chris Columbus (Home Alone), this is a lesser known cult classic begging to be watched. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, Phil Hartman, Rita Wilson, Jake Lloyd, and cameos from Jim Belushi and Robert Conrad, the uncanny cast carries the thinly-plotted movie about sell-out toys and the commercialization of Christmas. Howard (Arnold), a father and husband who chooses work over his family, soon learns his lesson when he delays and discovers his son’s Christmas toy of choice has sold out. From there, it’s a hyperbolic romp of Howard and Myron (Sinbad) maniacally running all over town in a flurry of hijinks, pranks, and fatherly desperation. It’s fun, silly, and emphasizes the importance of family over material goods for Christmas. A tad violent in a cartoony way, it’s rated PG but views like a soft PG-13.

Fatman (2020)

Pitch black, violent, and cynical, it’s a gritty postmodern Christmas movie just for adults. Chris Cringle (Mel Gibson) is a down-andout Santa barely surviving–kids have become so ruthless that half of them are on the naughty list, toy production has succumbed to outsourcing, and the U.S. government has halved their subsidy. This forces Chris to take on a shocking new government contract of production to pay the bills. After Christmas, a ruthless rich kid who, after justifiably receiving coal, hires a hitman (Walter Goggins)–who eerily and obsessively collects and stores Santa-made gifts–to kill Santa. All culminating in an ultimate showdown. It’s dark, serious, and surprisingly entertaining. Not for the faint of heart. Rated R.

Christmas movies to also include in your movie marathon: Die Hard (1988, R), Scrooged (1988, PG-13), Home Alone 2 (1992, PG), The Family Man (2000, PG-13).

Stream these movies where available, or rent from your local movie store, library, or rental kiosk.

Blood Sugar & The Holidays

Yikes! It’s the holidays again, and you’ve been trying so hard to keep your blood sugar and your weight down. Sometimes you’re good at staying away from those Christmas Cookies and that fruitcake, other times you load your plate up with mashed potatoes and eat everything you want. Why is it so hard to keep blood sugar and weight under control?

I come from a family who tends towards obesity and diabetes. Staying at a healthy weight and staying away from carbohydrates has been a decades long challenge for me. Holidays were the hardest. By January I had usually gained weight and was dragging with fatigue. I’ve learned a few things over the years. Here’s my better strategy to keep the blood sugar levels and weight down over the holidays.

On weekdays, eat small 100-calorie healthy snacks every 2 to 3 hours during the day; then eat a balanced meal for supper with half the plate filled with vegetables. A 100-calorie, low-carb snack a few hours after supper is allowed if you’re really hungry. Eating small amounts of food regularly keeps your blood sugar level and ramps up your metabolism. It’s fun to figure out your own 100-calorie snacks by Googling calorie levels in different foods and reading labels.

Another important part of this program is taking chromium mornings and evenings. Chromium is a mineral that helps balance blood sugar and decreases sugar cravings. On the weekends, when the parties are happening and you’re being less strict, make sure you eat some protein and vegetables before trying out the dessert plates. Keep taking

greens (don’t count these calories) with 100 calories of salad dressing of your choice.

or cuke sticks (no calorie counts) with 100 calories of healthy dip of your choice.

Stabilyz Bar (sold at Daniel’s Health & Nutrition)

cheese and 2 slices

meat on a leaf of lettuce with a bit of mustard for flavor.

the chromium and take digestive enzymes to break down all that delicious food properly.

Some good supplements for blood sugar maintenance and weight management are herb-and-mineral blends like Chromium Picolinate Metabolic Booster by Irwin Natural’s, which helps stop weight gain and sugar cravings, and Blood Sugar Manager by Nature’s Way especially formulated for balancing blood sugar.

Any way you look at it, there are ways to navigate the holidays without blood sugar and weight rising. Happy holidays to you from all of us at Daniel’s Health & Nutrition.

Ruth Maletz RN, CNC & Jonathan Maletz, LMHC Daniel’s Health & Nutrition

918 12th Street, Hood River 541-386-7328 www.DanielsHoodRiver.com

Brie

INGREDIENTS

CRANBERRY SAUCE

1 C fresh cranberries

6 T packed brown sugar

1 T orange juice

1/2 t grated orange peel

BRIE AND PASTRY

1 T butter or margarine

1/3 C sliced almonds

1 (17.3 oz) sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

1 (14 to 15 oz) round Brie cheese

1 egg, beaten

DIRECTIONS

1. In 1-quart saucepan, mix cranberries, brown sugar and orange juice. Heat to boiling, stirring frequently; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 15 to 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens and cranberries are tender. Stir in orange peel; remove from heat.

2. In 8-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook almonds in butter, stirring frequently, until golden brown; remove from heat.

3. Heat oven to 400°F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. On lightly floured surface, roll pastry into 16x9-inch rectangle. Cut out one 8 1/2-inch circle and one 7-inch circle from pastry.

4. Place cheese round on center of large circle. Spoon cranberry sauce and almonds over cheese. Bring pastry up and press around side of cheese. Brush top edge of pastry with egg. Place 7-inch circle on top, pressing around edge to seal. Brush top and side of pastry with egg. Cut decorations from remaining pastry and arrange on top; brush with egg. Place on cookie sheet.

5. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 hour before serving.

Serve with assorted crackers or sliced fresh fruit.

bettycrocker.com/recipes/brie-in-puff-pastry-with-cranberry-sauce

Peppermint & Ginger The History of Christmas Treats

By Donovan Darling, Staff Writer

German choir boys, Egyptian pharaohs, the Brothers Grimm, and Queen Elizabeth I all shaped our Christmas treats and their storied past.

Decorate your Christmas tree, stir your hot cocoa, or eat a classic treat, because candy canes are the most versatile and best-selling non-chocolate candy during December, with almost 2 billion produced every year. But did you know that candy canes were likely invented for fidgety German choirboys?

Data suggests the candy cane goes back to 1670, when the Cologne Cathedral choirmaster in Germany needed to quiet down his choir boys during the Living Creche ceremony (live nativity scene). Carly Schildhaus of the National Confectioners Association says “[he] handed out sugar sticks among his young singers to keep them quiet.” It’s rumored the church elders were upset because sweets were inappropriate in church, so the choirmaster shaped the sugar sticks into shepherd crooks (like the nativity scene) to appease the church elders. This could be a coincidence, however, as candy canes were likely hung on Christmas trees during this time, along with fruit and cookies.

11th century Europe when the Crusaders brought ginger back from the Middle East. Once ginger became more affordable, gingerbread gained popularity.

Early European recipes for gingerbread called for ginger, sugar, rosewater, stale breadcrumbs, and ground almonds, which were mashed into a paste and pressed into wooden molds. These work-of-art molds made a storyboard that told the major news and took the shapes of kings, queens, emperors, and more. Cookies were sometimes decorated with edible gold or flat white icing.

Interestingly, candy canes used to be only white for hundreds of years. It wasn’t until the early 20th century and the advent of mass production that the iconic red-striped peppermint candy cane came into existence.

According to Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Germanic mythology, honey was a gift of the gods with the power to heal, give life, and banish demons. Gingerbread, in its early form as spiced honeybread, was found in pharaohs’ tombs dating to 1500 BC. Later, a more modern gingerbread appeared in

In 16th century England, flour replaced the stale breadcrumbs, and sweeteners and eggs were added. Incredibly, Queen Elizabeth I is credited for creating the first gingerbread man, which shocked visiting dignitaries who were given cookies made in their likeness. At fairs, gingerbread was tied with a ribbon and exchanged as a token of love. The gingerbread house gained popularity in Germany after the Brothers Grimm published their fairy tales, including “Hansel and Gretel,” in the 19th century. Later, German immigrants brought this lebkuchenhaeusle to America.

Today, gingerbread is often made with ginger, anise, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sweetened with honey, corn syrup, brown sugar, or molasses. It comes in many forms, such as gingerbread people, houses, ginger snaps, and more. So when you’re munching on a gingerbread man or hanging candy canes on your Christmas tree, remember the countless individuals who quite literally shaped these fascinating treats!

New Location, Same Fantastic Flooring

Affordable Floors and Abbey Carpet & Floors moves to spacious, new showroom

By Patti Jo Brooks, Contributing Writer Photos by Henry Schifter

Affordable Floors, a longstanding Hood River business, teamed up in 2002 with Abbey Carpet & Floors, a nationwide purchasing group. After 25 years on 13th Street, they recently moved to a spot on Osprey Drive. This new location provides Affordable Floors and Abbey Carpet & Floors with more space and features a much larger, newly remodeled showroom. “Everybody who walks in, is just in awe of the showroom,” says owner Larry Williams. “It’s eyepopping.” Supplying both residential and commercial flooring, Affordable Floors and Abbey Carpet & Floors offer customers “hometown service” along with the best prices available.

The new location allows larger trucks to get in and out easier, and load vans quicker and easier, too, which, in turn, serves as a benefit to the customers. Free estimates, lifetime warranties, and a 60-day guarantee play their part as well in the customer’s experience. Leading the list, however, would be the 30-plus years of local ownership by the same individual.

Never changing hands, all aspects of the business have stayed in house. Larry Williams, the owner, manages the showroom, takes orders, does the measuring, and completes installations. He does have help, but his own schedule finds him in the office

two days a week and installing three days a week. Jim Hart, who’s been with Larry at Affordable Floors for 30 years, works as a full-time installer, and a few subcontractors also help install. Rounding out the staff is Larry’s daughter-in-law, Noe Williams, who runs both the showroom and the office.

Larry and a business partner started Affordable Floors in 1992. With a college degree and some retail experience, they decided to “hop into floor covering,” Larry says. “We hit the ground running and never looked back.” Two years ago, his partner wanted to retire, so Larry bought his portion.

Larry grew up in Hood River, left for college, and came back to become a mainstay of the community. He raised three sons with his wife of 37 years, and is blessed with three granddaughters. When it’s his turn to retire, Larry hopes to pass the business onto a family member or a friend.

Customers have a deep appreciation for the personal owner/ seller relationship that Affordable Floors has to offer. They trust the experience and reputation of the business, and the quality product of Abbey Carpet & Floors.

Whether you’re looking for hardwood, carpet, vinyl, ceramic tile, or something else, Larry claims, “Our showroom has, by far, the biggest and best selection in the Gorge.” Check out the line of luxury vinyl plank wood look or tile look flooring. Upload a picture of your room on the website to see how the selections would look in your own home.

Visit Affordable Floors and Abbey Carpet & Floors Showroom at 1512 Osprey Dr. Unit B, in Hood River. Call at (541) 386-7799, email at floors@gorge.net, or visit affordablefloorshr.com.

From right: Owner Larry Williams, wife Lisa, daughter-in-law Noe with granddaughter Lacey, and longtime installer Jim Hart.

A legacy of vision and hope

The History of Timberline Lodge

By Robert Matsumura, Contributing Writer

What trip to Mount Hood is complete without a visit to Timberline Lodge? As an Oregonian you are likely familiar with this iconic landmark nestled at the base of the state’s most prominent mountain, but are you aware that this historic alpine retreat was developed as a symbol of hope during one of the bleakest periods in American history?

Under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was established in 1935 as a program to boost the economy by funding state and city projects. These public works projects generated jobs for millions of unemployed Americans victimized by the catastrophic economic downturn triggered by the stock market crash of 1929—known today as the Great Depression.

Timberline Lodge was conceptualized by a number of individuals including Jack Meier of the Mount Hood Development

Timberline Lodge, summer

Association, Francis E. (Scotty) Williamson Jr. of the United States Forestry Service, and Emerson J. Griffith, the WPA Director for Oregon. Timberline Lodge was envisioned as a triumphant symbol of the WPA, and a shining example of what it could achieve.

After funding approval from the WPA in December of 1935, Gilbert Stanley Underwood was selected as the lead architect for the project. Underwood had already successfully designed lodges at many national parks, including Yosemite and Bryce Canyon. Similar to the other lodges Underwood had completed, Timberline was planned as a rustic, asymmetrical structure with a rough-hewn style reminiscent of the region’s early pioneers. Underwood also suggested the lodge incorporate native materials, and that decorative elements be implemented honoring both the area’s Indigenous peoples and the pioneer settlers who had arrived on the Oregon Trail.

Constructed between 1936 and 1938, the total cost of Timberline Lodge was $695,730, of which 80 percent of the cost went to labor. Skilled trade workers made ninety cents an hour, and unskilled laborers received fifty-five cents an hour. A number of

Ironwork at Timberline, Courtesy Oregon State Library

the stonemasons were Italian immigrants and had been brought over from their homeland to work on the Historic Columbia River Highway. Workers were housed in a nearby tent city at Camp Zig Zag and Summit Meadow.

Two key goals of the WPA were to foster independence through training and to encourage private enterprise. Ray Neufer, who was in charge of the Oregon WPA woodworking shop, explained that many of the men who crafted the newel posts (support pillars for stairwells) were inexperienced as carvers. Neufer recalled: “Most of the men came in from construction projects and they didn’t know they could do some of the things they did. Most of them had been out of work a long time, then on construction jobs, and they had lost their self-confidence.”

Material costs for the lodge were kept to a minimum by utilizing recycled materials. Female seamstresses wove upholstery, drapery, and bedspreads. Hooked rugs were fashioned from old Civilian Conservation Corps camp blankets. Discarded cedar utility poles became lodge posts, their crowns hand-carved in the shape of seals, birds, and bears. Tire chains were welded into fireplace screens. And the signature iron work, as well as andirons, were crafted from railroad tracks.

The decorative and stylistic elements of Timberline Lodge were directed by Margery Hoffman Smith, the Oregon Arts Project Administrator for the Federal Arts Project. Smith created many of the beautiful patterns for the textiles and rugs, and she designed the iconic “Snow Goose,”

the 750-pound bronze weathervane perched atop the lodge. Smith’s inspiration for the forms and motifs resplendent throughout the lodge are derived from the art of the Tenino, an Indigenous people of the area. Smith, too, recalled how many of the workers on the project successfully transitioned their skills into new areas: “Carpenters became cabinet makers, blacksmiths became art metal workers, and sewing women became expert drapery makers.” For her work on Timberline Lodge, Smith earned the title of “Grand Dame” of the Arts and Crafts style, and in 1979 Governor Vic Atiyeh awarded her the Governor’s Award for the Arts.

While on tour of government projects in the Western United States, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated Timberline Lodge on September 28, 1937, five months before its opening to the public. He and his First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, arrived at the lodge via an open touring car, escorted by a motorcade of forty vehicles. As they wound their way up the Mount Hood Loop Road, horsemounted Forest Service personnel lined the roadway to salute and wave. From the terrace overlooking the main entrance, Roosevelt addressed a gathering of 1200 community members. “This venture was made possible by WPA emergency relief work,” he said, “in order that we may test the workability of recreational facilities installed by the government itself.” To this day, Roosevelt’s dedication on a bronze tablet is set in stone on the lodge terrace.

Following completion, Timberline Lodge was turned over to the U.S. Forest Service in January 1938, and opened to the public on February 4th of the same year. The Magic Mile chairlift was completed by the Riblet Tramway Company, and the WPA built the Silcox Warming Hut at the top of the lift.

Timberline Lodge was closed during World War II, but reopened again in 1945. However, discovering that the lodge and ski facilities had not been maintained properly, the U.S. Forest Service revoked the operating permit. Months later, Richard L. Kohnstamm was awarded an operating permit. He successfully restored the lodge, re-established ski education programs, and oversaw the construction of an outdoor swimming pool. In 1975, convention facilities were also added, and in 1981 the

Wy’East Day Lodge was built across the parking lot to serve the recreational skiers. Although Kohnstamm passed away in 2006, his family continues to operate the lodge through R.L.K. and Company.

Not surprisingly, Hollywood also found Timberline Lodge appealing. The exterior views of Timberline Lodge were used in the movie The Shining. Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of the bestselling Stephen King novel depicted Timberline Lodge as the fictitious Overlook Hotel.

In 1975, the Friends of Timberline organization was formed to celebrate and preserve the heritage of Oregon’s signature mountain retreat. Two years later, on December 22, 1977, Timberline Lodge was designated as a National Historic Landmark, and the finest example of WPA mountain architecture. The next time you find yourself bound for Mount Hood, be sure to stop by Timberline Lodge. Stand atop the terrace where FDR stood, and appreciate the vision, commitment, and labor of the many men and women who made this grand concept into a reality, which generations of Oregonians have held so close to their hearts.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated Timberline Lodge on September 28, 1937, five months before its opening to the public.

Timberline Lodge interior

Timberline Lodge plaque

ANIMAGIC

The Surprising History of Rudolph

By Donovan Darling, Active Media Staff Writer

You’ve probably never heard of Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment, but you’ve certainly seen their abundant and classic Christmas movies. The most popular stop-motion Christmas movies they produced were Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970), The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974), The First Christmas (1975), Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1976), and Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1979). While far from being new, these heartwarming movies continue to charm new generations every holiday season.

First known as Videocraft International, Ltd., the company was founded by Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass in New York City in 1960. Most of the Rankin / Bass animations, including their “Animagic” stop-motion movies, were produced in Tokyo, Japan. In fact, most of the studio’s animation was outsourced to Japanese companies like MOM Production, Eiken, Toei Animation, Mushi Productions, and Topcraft. Rankin / Bass was one of the first American film studios to outsource low-budget animated television and movies to foreign animation studios. Throughout the 1960s, the Animagic movies were spearheaded by stop-motion animator Tadahito Mochinaga at MOM Production.

Rankin / Bass remained successful for many years thanks to their animated holiday specials which aired for American television. In 1964, the company produced a special for NBC and sponsored by General Electric: a stop-motion animated adaptation of Robert L. May’s 1939 story “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” which featured the 1949 song it inspired, “ Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” written by May’s brother-in-law, Johnny Marks. With American actor Burl Ives as Sam the Snowman and narrator, with an original score by Marks himself, Rudolph became one of the most popular and longest-running Christmas specials in television history, airing with NBC until 1972 when it

moved to CBS. After its last series output, Rankin / Bass shut down its production company on March 4, 1987. The look and style of the films has heavily influenced more modern holiday classics such as Elf (2003), as well as being parodied by Saturday Night Live and South Park.

The figurines featured in Rudolph were created by Japanese puppet-maker Ichiro Komuro for the fan favorite stop-motion movie. “These were hand-made. They weren’t toys,” pop culture memorabilia appraiser Simeon Lipman told PBS in 2006. “They had mechanisms to make them move, to make them come almost alive. No mass manufacturer of toys, especially in the 1960s, made things like that. It was made to be on film.” The 6-inch-tall Rudolph and 11-inchtall Santa were made of wood, wire, cloth, and leather, with Rudolph’s nose lighting up and Santa’s beard made from yak hair. Sometime in the 70s, the puppets came to Barbara Adams, a secretary at Rankin / Bass. She used the figurines to decorate her Christmas tree, and let her nieces and nephews play with them like toys.

Later, most of the figurines ended up tragically melting in a hot attic, presumably Barbara’s. Her nephew brought the survivors, Santa and Rudolph, to the Antiques Roadshow, where they were valued at $8,000 to $10,000. A toy collector, Keith Kriess, purchased the puppets for an undisclosed amount, but much more than that appraisal. He then spent $4,000 to have them meticulously restored. Before that, Rudolph had lost his nose, and Santa was missing half his yak-hair mustache. Santa and Rudolph were successfully restored, according to Peter Lutrario, who purchased them from Keith for an undisclosed amount. In late 2020, Peter sold them to an anonymous auction bidder, who won them for a whopping $368,000!

Although the current whereabouts of the figurines are unknown, we can be sure that Rudolph and Santa are alive and well in their Rankin/Bass stop-motion movies, emblazoning television screens each December all across the world. Magical and heartwarming to this day, these Christmas films pioneered holiday television specials, forever changed the world of animation, and continue to capture our imagination and hearts.

The Gorge’s Must-Stop Home Design Shop

Swell City Décor specialists can help you dress your house from top to bottom

By Patti Jo Brooks, Contributing Writer

Swell City Décor promises the “Highest Quality Products.” This local home improvements store offers an extensive selection of floor coverings, area rugs, window treatments, paints and stains, and sundries. When it comes to home improvement, Swell City Décor is a must-stop in the Hood River area. Drop by the showroom because, “You’ll want to see it for yourself!”

Located just south of I-84 on Cascade Ave. (Highway 30), Swell City Décor is one of the largest showrooms in the region and open five days per week. If you’d like to preview the selections, sit back, relax, and peruse their beautifully organized, comprehensive website at your leisure. Whether you visit Swell City Décor in person or online, someone is always waiting to help you. A team of skilled project specialists,

professional estimators and installers, contractors and inhouse employees all work together to provide you with the best possible experience and strive to make you feel like family.

A family-focused venture in every sense of the word, Swell City Décor was bought by business partners Shane Sears and Dayna Stallsworth in 2017. Dayna’s dad, Darren, had been the previous owner for more than 20 years, and Shane had been one of his lead installers for those 20-plus years, as well. Shane’s wife, Sherry, has worked in the office scheduling and keeping books for well over 10 years now. In addition to the close family ties of the owners, Swell City Décor has also developed a familyfriendly culture among their employees.

That same family-friendly spirit is extended to the Hood River community. Every year at Christmastime, Swell City Décor hosts a toy drive where you can drop off your donations at the store. A Christmas pet food drive is sponsored at the same time. “We like animals, too!” says Dayna. They support local youth through sponsorships and donations, which last year included a baseball team sponsorship and a donation of paint and carpet to the 4-H group. Furthermore, Swell City Décor offers discounts to military, first responders, police, and more, in recognition of their service.

Open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Swell City Décor is located at 1737 Cascade Ave. in Hood River. Give them a ring at 541-386-1222 or email swellcitydecor@yahoo.com. Visit their website, swellcitydecor.com, for additional information and a complete list of featured brands, technologies, and services.

Pulling for the Gorge

Hood View Services focuses on community

By Patti Jo Brooks, Contributing Writer Photos by Henry Schifter

If your car has trouble, call Hood View Services for all your Automotive needs!” Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, Hood View Services, LLC offers auto glass replacement, roadside assistance, off-road recovery and towing, as well as servicing and minor repairs. Need a U-Haul? Call or stop by, and they’ll take care of you. At Hood View Services it’s customer service that drives their business: “Now offering towing services to the Columbia River Gorge!”

Hood View Services, owned and operated by Alexander and Danielle Stevens since 2019, began as a Mobile Glass Installation service. In 2021, Alex and Danielle thought it would benefit the community to add emergency roadside assistance to their services. The Stevenses were able to successfully expand Hood View Services by adding floor space in their present location, purchasing two towing vehicles, and hiring three full-time truck drivers as well as a part-time employee. As a result, Hood View Services has seen “a crazy amount of growth,” Danielle expresses.

What truly sets Hood View Services apart from other

businesses like it “is our customer service, and our passion for serving our community,” says Danielle. When someone calls for towing or roadside assistance, and the trucks are already responding to prior calls, it’s heartbreaking for Danielle to say “no.” In the future, she envisions that Hood View Services will be adding more tow trucks to their fleet to better assist the local community.

Alongside towing and roadside assistance, windshield repair and replacement remains a core element of the business. Alex has been replacing windshields and mending rock chips for 14 years, having established the business originally as an auto glass service. For customer convenience, windshield replacements as well as automotive repairs and servicing, can now be completed in their onsite shop. Call to schedule an appointment today.

Alex and Danielle live in the Columbia River Gorge area and share a common passion for the community. Danielle was born and raised locally, and her dad has been a business owner in the area “mostly his whole life,” she relates. Alex has been a local resident for the last five years, and has worked in the Gorge for 14. They have three children (ages 9, 6, and 10 months), and the two older ones can be heard on the Hood View Services radio ad. Currently, Hood View Services is offering a $50-off coupon toward the insurance deductible for in-shop windshield replacement, and 10% off roadside assistance in the Hood River area.

Hood View Services is located at 3028 Lower Mill Drive in Hood River. Give them a call at (541) 354-1095, visit their website at hoodviewservices.com, or email danielle.hoodview@gmail.com.