MOUNTAIN TIMES MOUNTAIN TIMES
Government Camp, Sandy and Boring
Peggy Wallace Retires After 25 Years of Dedication to The Mountain Times Annual Rummage Sale
By Brittany Kintigh
For The Mountain Times
Hoodland Senior Center’s rummage sale was a big hit, thanks to the incredible support from our community. We had a huge turnout of items donated by generous community members and we raised over $3500! All the money will go toward funding the Senior Center’s Meals on Wheels and Medical Ride Transportation programs. This means that local seniors will have more meals delivered to their homes and we can accommodate the increased need for rides to medical appointments. How awesome is that?!
The rummage sale wasn’t just about shopping though. There was so much more to enjoy! We had a sizzling hotdog BBQ, and a big thank you goes out to Barlow Trail Roadhouse for donating their delicious Mac Salad. Local guitarist B. Stearns brought his musical talent to the event, making everyone tap their toes and enjoy the lively tunes. The food and entertainment were a hit!
The Lions Club deserves a big shoutout for hosting this wonderful event. A huge thank you to all the volunteers who gave their time and effort. Whether they were setting up, helping at the BBQ, or
By Kelly Romo The Mountain Times
As Peggy Wallace retires from The Mountain Times, we celebrate her remarkable 25-year journey with the newspaper. Known for her warmth, dedication, and advocacy, Peggy has been the heart and soul of The Mountain Times and the spirit of the mountain community. Her unwavering commitment to the community and the paper has left an indelible mark, inspiring us all for years to come.
Peggy’s story begins in New York, where she was born and raised. Fresh out of high school, she entered the workforce, excelling in office work – primarily because she had two skills taught in school: typing and shorthand. But the call of adventure beckoned, and Peggy left her native
city to embrace the hippie lifestyle, traveling through the United States, Mexico and the Bay Area. “I was a hippie by night and a secretary by day,” she recalls with a laugh. Her journey took a significant turn when she arrived in Portland, intending only to visit a friend. She ending up staying. After working at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Peggy met her husband and moved to the Mt. Hood area.
Peggy was drawn into the newspaper world by Tom Teven and Marie Kennedy, the paper’s then-owners, who were going through a transitional period. Peggy’s role at The Mountain Times began as a leap of faith. She quit her waitressing job to assist Tom and dive headfirst into the newspaper’s operations. Over the
years, the paper changed hands a few more times, with each owner leaving their mark.
Tom sold the paper to Steve and Lara Wilent in 2001, and Steve asked her to stay on and help. “Every owner brought changes, but the commitment to community never wavered,” Peggy notes. The Wilent’s brought the paper from cut and paste into the digital age.
In 2008, ownership of the paper transferred to Fran and Larry Berteau. Under their leadership, the paper transitioned to color and increased from twenty-four to thirty-two pages, marking a significant evolution. Larry, a career journalist, brought his passion for politics and
The End of Summer
Mountain Profile Christen Prudence Mountain Profile
100th Anniversary of our Settlement! Roaring 20’s Party Saturday Sept 21st @ 6pm With the How Long Jug Band
Karaoke Every other Sunday September 1st, 15th and 29th
Trivia
PLACE OF BIRTH? Sacramento, California. HOW LONG ON THE MOUNTAIN? 7.5 years.
IF YOU WERE NOT BROUGHT HERE AS A CHILD, WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE MOUNTAIN? Wanting to open my door and be surrounded by nature and have to drive to the city instead of the other way around.
PROFESSION? Market Manager of Hoodland Farmers Market.
OTHER PROFESSIONS? Homeschooling Mama, Reiki Master Teacher, Intuitive Healer, many different sales and management jobs.
FAVORITE MOVIE? The Neverending Story.
FAVORITE ACTRESS/ACTOR? Cate Blanchett and Giovanni Ribisi.
FAVORITE TV SHOWS? I’m a sucker for documentaries.
FAVORITE BOOKS? Harry Potter series.
FAVORITE TYPE OF MUSIC? Depends on my mood.
FAVORITE FOOD? Chocolate.
FAVORITE HOBBIES? hiking, walking, gardening, decorating, homesteading.
IF OFFERED A DREAM VACATION, WHERE WOULD YOU GO, AND WHY?
My ancestral lands of Cubs, Ireland and Norway, because I haven’t been there yet.
BEST LESSON LEARNED AS A CHILD? Be careful what you ask for.
DEFINING MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE OR YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT?
Moving to the PNW shifted everything in the most magical way.
A MEMORABLE DINNER? Dining on the beach at sunset in Bali on my honeymoon eating fresh seafood and watching the tide creep closer and closer to our table while being serenaded by local musicians.
A FUNNY MOMENT FROM YOUR LIFE THAT YOU CAN SHARE? I didn’t believe that a tongue could get stuck on a pole if it’s cold enough after watching A Christmas Story, so I found out the hard way when I tried it for myself as a joke — the joke was on me!.
IF YOU COULD INVITE ANYONE (PAST OR PRESENT) TO DINNER, WHO WOULD IT BE, AND WHY?
My parents because I would want them to meet my kids.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN ONE WORD? Authentic.
WHEN YOU’RE NOT READING THE MOUNTAIN TIMES, WHAT BOOK/AUTHOR/MAGAZINE/ OTHER DO YOU READ? I love reading historical fiction.
IF YOUR LIFE WERE MADE INTO A PLAY OR MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE TITLE BE? Just Keep Keepin’ On!
PET PEEVE? Litterbugs.
BAD HABIT YOU’D LIKE TO BREAK? Oversharing.
FAMOUS PERSON(S) YOU HAVE MET, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES? Gavin Rossdale, lead singer of the ’90s band Bush — I crawled through bushes and under the tour buses after a concert on their Sixteen Stone Tour with my friends. I was holding his hand and a group of girls gathered and pushed us apart. I then grabbed his beanie, but then felt bad and gave it back. I cried like those hysterical Beatles fans you see losing their minds and swore I would never wash my hand again, my friend had to help wash my face that night hahaha.
FAVORITE QUOTE? “Be here now.” — Ram Dass
FAVORITE PART OF THE MOUNTAIN TIMES? The ads.
Crustacean Celebration Returns
Excitement as Skyway Bar and Grill’s Crawdad Festival returned to a rolling boil at the event’s 18th annual edition on August 17 and 18!
By Adrian Knowler
The Mountain Times
After a one-year hiatus, the festival made a strong comeback this summer, with the restaurant reporting 900 visitors over two days. Despite a lightning storm and golf ball-sized hail on Saturday night, the severe weather did nothing to dampen the crowd’s cravings for crawdads.
The restaurant offered attendees a variety of ways to enjoy the shellfish, which tastes similar to lobster or crab. Festival-goers ate them boiled with a side of butter and lemon, in a flavorful gumbo, or fried and stuffed into a po’ boy sandwich.
Volunteer crawdad chef Cloie Gilbert helped start the tradition as a summer cookout with friends and family 40
years ago. She’s cooked crawdads at each year’s edition since the festival has been put on by Skyway.
What started as a modest get-together has blossomed over the years, with the restaurant stocking a whopping 500 pounds of crawdads for the 2024 edition - many of which were sourced from nearby Timothy Lake.
The party has also evolved to include a lineup of live bands, with jug, country, and blues bands providing a lively backdrop to this year’s festivities.
When asked how she prefers to savor the delicacy, Gilbert said she likes to keep it simple.
“Hot, right out of the pot,” she said.
The restaurant staff prepared to serve up to 600 people, according
to longtime chef Jason Hornor, who revealed that the boil recipe includes cayenne, bay leaf, and a few secret ingredients.
The corn and potatoes served as side dishes are boiled in the same water and take on a smokey and salty flavor after mingling with the seafood.
Hornor said that the staff is always excited for the return of the shellfish shindig.
“We’re still working hard, but it feels like it’s a day off,” he said, pointing out that the live music and the chance to dress up with beads and face paint provide the crew with “an escape from the normal.”
Ed Grenfell has been
boiling crawfish at the festival for over a decade and came back this year, despite recently moving to Arizona. He drove 1,300 miles to keep the tradition alive and see his friends at his favorite party of the year.
“It’s like going to a little Mardi Gras,” he said.
Shane Stuckey also traveled from the Grand Canyon State with his partner, who used to live in the Mount Hood area and has attended for years. Although this was Stuckey’s first time at the festival, he felt right at home, with seafood boils a regular part of his upbringing in the South.
He said the quality of
the meat surpasses what he remembers in South Carolina, where the crustaceans are often referred to as mudbugs. He said the clear waters and diet of Pacific northwest crawdads is reflected in their “clean” flavor.
Attendees left with full bellies and smiles on their faces.
“It’s a quality down home small town event,” said Skyway co-owner
Tracie Anderson. “We make a lot of people happy and it’s just fun.” Anderson said she only eats crawdads once per year, but she makes sure to get her fill.
“I eat three pounds on Sunday night when the festival is winding down,” she said. “I get enough for the whole year.”
Hoodland Community Planning Organization
By Pat Erdenberger, Hoodland CPO
For The Mountain Times
The goal of the Hoodland Community Planning Organization (HCPO) is to bring county information to our Hoodland community and provide the community a voice back to the county. HCPO is interested in hearing from any individual or business with a concern, an issue, or a question.
The Hoodland CPO will have a speaker at each community meeting. These speakers include representatives from Salmon Valley Water Company, the Clackamas County Engineering Department (Welches Road Project), the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), and the Superintendent of the Oregon Trails School District.
The Mt. Hood Corri-
dor Wildfire Partnership will be holding another debris collection in early fall. Please trim excess fuels on your property and have them ready for quick and free disposal. The May collection was wildly successful.
The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) approved the zoning change that will allow ADUs and RVs to be designated permanent dwellings. Like other CPOs in the Mt Hood Corridor, we welcome ADUs, but zoning RVs as permanent dwellings encountered majority objection among HCPO membership.
At their August 7th policy meeting, the BCC was scheduled to discuss a plan to allow RVs as
temporary dwellings – an issue of extreme concern in our area. The meeting ran out of time prior to the plan being discussed, and it is unclear when it will reappear on the BCC agenda. Stay tuned.
The HCPO August 1st Community Meeting saw a new Hoodland CPO Board elected. Officers for the 2024 to 2025 term are: Chair, Pat Erdenberger; Vice Chair, Lisa Massena; Secretary, Marti Bowne; Treasurer, Monica Taylor; Sergeant at Arms, Jenni Rogers. Thank you to the community members who participated and voted: we appreciate your time and attention.
A meeting of the Hoodland Community
Resource Collaboration was held on August 1st. This is the second meeting of representatives from most of the local non-profit organizations and a representative from the HCPO. There was agreement to meet quarterly to share ideas and resources, develop a shared calendar of events, engineer a place to electronically store documents, and discuss future plans for a website. The HCPO is very pleased to work with these generous volunteers.
The United States Forest Service held a Strategic Planning Workshop August 6th at the Welches School, and HCPO was also in attendance. The USFS’ purpose was to elicit
ideas and opinions from the community regarding fuels reduction in the forest and on our properties. There is a 10 million dollar budget to clear the excess fuels from the Mt.Hood National Forest and homes in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). We look forward to the development of this plan to address these urgent fire safety needs.
Please consider offering your time and talent to the Hoodland Community Planning Organization as a volunteer.
Should you have interest or any questions, please contact us at hoodlandcpo@gmail.com.
“It Takes a Village.”
All Hail’s Breakin’ Loose; Hey, Hey, Have You Read the News?
On August 16th, 2024
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Saturday August 17th to the mountain area.
In addition to high winds, lightning and very much needed rain to help quell Oregon’s forest fires, a scattered hail threat was also included in the report.
Mother nature did not disappoint. Folks in the area reported a downpour of nickel and dime size hail stones, with a mix of 1” to 1.5” hail as well.
Damage reported ranged from dents and dings in automobiles to holes in porch covers and more. If you have
an asphalt roof it is recommended that you have your roof checked for divots that hail of this size can create. It can break the backing of the asphalt shingles and cause roof damage leading to roof leaks and more.
Meet the Athlete
Confidence Pushes Ezekiel Hill to Lead the Pioneers Under the Lights
By Joe O’Leary
The Mountain Times
With the graduation of the 2023 Sandy High School football team, including starting quarterback Billy Lucas, an intense but necessary battle has heated up over the summer to pinpoint his replacement. The student
athletes battling to win the position are soph -
omore Micaiah Turin (who led an 8-1 Pioneer freshman team last year) and junior Ezekiel Hill. With the results of the battle largely unknown (until the Pioneers opening game against Franklin on September 6), it’s likely
that both quarterbacks will see some action against a Quakers team that went 5-5 last year and are also looking to a transition for the most important position on the field.
“It’s neck and neck right now,” one member of the team stated in early August. The stress and the small margin for error in the battle for QB1 has not affected the calm, cool attitude of Hill, who didn’t seem at all worried about his ability to prove to head coach Josh Dill he was the man for the job, concurrently asserting his ability to lead the team if he secures the role.
“I’m a competitive guy, you know. I like to compete. Our team is super young and has a lot of potential this year,” Hill said, “I mean, we have so many dogs.” Hill, who has played quarterback since third grade, led a junior varsity offense that struggled at times last season but wasn’t without a fair share of exciting moments. Standing at 5’ 9,” Hill lacks traditional quarterback size, but uses his smaller frame to his advantage, utilizing his speed and agility to get himself out of trouble, traits evident when you watch him mount an offense.
“Josh Allen’s a guy I kind of look at, a little dual threat. And that’s what I like to see myself as, I can run and throw
the ball,” Hill explained. Allen, the starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, stands at 6’ 5”, making Hill’s emulation of him a bit far-fetched at face value. It is clear, however, that presumptions and expectations have never fazed Hill or his game.
“I want to make playoffs. I want to not just make playoffs, but to make an impact statement. I want to show the Mount Hood Conference that we’re contenders. We’re not just that same Sandy team we’ve been,” Hill said. Sandy lost quite a few major contributors last year to graduation, but looks to build upon an excellent young core, with a great deal of their projected starters juniors and sophomores.
“We’re super young; I think our team has a lot of potential this year. I think we’re going to shake up the conference. No one is really expecting us to be good, but we’re going to come out and we’re going to show ‘em,” Hill stated. And with the Pioneers season beginning at home in just a few short days, Hill made it crystal clear how he wants his tenure as starting quarterback to begin if he secures the position: “Everyone needs to come, we need everyone behind us. I want the place going crazy.”
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Backyard Burn Season is Closed Info: Hoodland Fire District: 503-622-3256. Sandy (served by Clackamas Fire): 503-742-2945
Student Firefighter Wants to Set Example for Women
By Ty Walker
Mountain Times
When Emily Dong was 5 years old, growing up in Clackamas, she saw her father have a stroke. She saw emergency first-response vehicles race to the scene. She watched as paramedics and firefighters worked to save his life.
“He wouldn’t have made it if the fire department didn’t show up and help him out,” Dong said. “I saw that and was like, this is cool. I looked into it – firefighting.”
During high school, she attended a wildland firefighting camp, which further developed her interest in firefighting, and deepened her interest in pursuing it as a career.
Dong, now 20, has her sights set on becom-
ing a firefighter, emergency medical technician (EMT), and eventually a paramedic. For starters, she enrolled in the Hoodland Fire District Student Program in June.
As volunteer numbers decline, the Hoodland Fire Student Program is filling the deficit with career-minded young adults who affiliate with HFD and volunteer their time in exchange for training, experience, and educational support in pursuit of college degrees in fire and EMS related fields.
“I really like helping people and I want to be the friendly face they see when they’re having a bad day,” Dong said.
Dong boards at Government Camp Sation
with other students in the program . She is assigned to a crew, working alongside career firefighters on regular shifts, 48 hours on, 96 hours off.
As part of the two-year student program, she also is studying at Portland Community College Cascade Campus to earn her EMT and firefighting certificates.
“I love it,” Dong said as she helped her crewmates cook teriyaki chicken with garlic broccoli fot dinner one night. “It’s fun. Everyone is so nice and other students are nice too.”
She goes on calls with the crew observing and getting hands-on training. She takes vitals, gets to sharpen her EMT skills on the scene, and meets
and talks to patients.
Dong comes from a very conservative family. As a woman of Asian descent, she wants to set an example for other young women and girls who may want to pursue a career in the male-dominated field that is firefighting.
She wants to send the message that she’s got this. She can do it. Don’t listen to the naysayers.
“I come from a very conservative family,” Dong said. “My nationality is Asian, so there’s not a lot of Asian women that go into this type of work. My mom was kind of like, ‘You can’t do it.’” Dong is out to prove that if there’s anyone who’s got what it takes to do it, she does. From a family of five, she is the middle child with an older brother and younger sister.
Dong graduated in 2023 from Clackamas High School, where she played volleyball.
During down times this summer, she’s been watching the Olympics on TV with crewmates.
She also enjoys reading and crocheting. She is currently making a blanket and carries a duffle bag full of yarn around the station.
For more information on the Hoodland Fire District Student Program, go online to www.hoodlandfire.gov/ student-program.
Bottle Shop Owner Shares Passion for Wine
By Ty Walker
The Mountain Times
To say that Bri Dittlinger loves wine is an understatement. You would have to search pretty hard to find someone on the mountain more passionate about wine.
The term “wine nerd” definitely applies to her. Bri loves telling stories
about wine and winemakers at the boutique wine bottle shop she owns with her husband, Kevin Dittlinger. There’s a story with every bottle at Cooper’s Wine Bar & Shop in Welches. She loves sharing her passion with regular, local customers as well as visitors to the Mt. Hood community.
“Cooper’s is our passion project that we do nights and weekends,” Bri said. The wine bar is something they do to supplement their careers as healthcare professionals. Bri owns and operates a private mental health clinic and Kevin has a day job as an optometrist.
They bought Cooper’s in the fall of 2021, but Bri started working there in 2019 for its original owners. The couple had recently relocated to Mount Hood from St. Louis for work and fell in love with the Welches community.
“Traditionally, with social work, you always have to have a side job because it’s not very high paying,” Bri said. “So I started here at this shop as my weekend job and I just loved it. I loved the culture here at the shop and here on the mountain.
“I really love wine and the stories of wine. They’re always so different and so unique. The story of the people and how they make them and grow them. The
stories of the parts of the world that they’re grown in. it’s always just been a passion.”
Bri and Kevin like to share the passion with everyone who comes to Cooper’s. In just a few years, they have developed a regular local customer base that’s supportive no matter the season.
Cooper’s hosts special events and tastings that help customers learn about wine and not feel intimidated by the subject. Bri tries to dispel any snooty connotations wine may have. She presents stories that make it more approachable.
Asked to pick her favorite wine, Bri laughed and said, “There are hundreds that I love. Today it’s cabernet sauvignon from Frichette Winery on Red Mountain, Washington. I’m loving that.”
Cooper’s is mostly a bottle shop that sells local and imported wine and beer by the glass or by the bottle. It has 8 wines open for glass pours and flights of 4 beers on tap, pour over
coffee, and loose leaf tea. Small charcuterie and brie plates are also on the menu. Its rustic decor includes a den dedicated to local art.
“Social work is a very rewarding career that has its own challenges,” said Bri, who specializes in trauma therapy. “I like the balance of leaving the heaviness of that job and coming to the wine shop and talking to people about a shared
passion, hanging out with them and spending time with them.”
Cooper’s Wine Bar is located at 24540 E. Welches Road. For more information, go online to cooperswinebarandshop. com or phone 503-6622025. Hours are 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
VIEW FROM THE MOUNTAIN
HELLO MOUNTAIN TIMERS,
At Active Media, we get together in the summertime to celebrate all the hard work and dedication my employees and contractors put into making all of our publications as good as they can be. This year, we celebrated not only our annual accomplishments, but also Peggy Wallace’s retirement from The Mountain Times.
Peggy has worked with the paper for more than 25 years. On the front page, you will find a story dedicated to her and her accomplishments while working for The Mountain Times. Thanks to all the previous
DEAR MOUNTAIN TIMES
READERS,
The letter from Joe Korpela that was published in the August 2024 issue of the Mountain Times was published in error. It was not the author’s intention for the letter to be sent to the paper or published in our “Letter to the Publisher” section.
The Mountain Times Staff
DEAR MOUNTAIN TIMES
Dropping my mail off at the post office has never given me concern. Now, with the changes that Postmaster DeJoy has planned, it does.The past several months I have experienced that change by mailing packages that should have taken two to three days at best taking almost a week to arrive. Packages were caught in a loop that took them from Brightwood to Tacoma and back to Sandy! Mailing just a bill to Milwaukie took 13 days. Asking questions at the post office about these issues has given me some answers: processes that are malfunctioning are not the fault of the local mail delivery people.They come from the top. Finding out that the evening dispatch of mail to Portland has been discontinued was a surprise – and not a good one. For example, if you mail something first thing in the morning or drop it off by three, it does not go anywhere until the next morning. It used to be picked up and taken to Portland by late that afternoon.The blue mailboxes that read Saturday pickup is 3:30 pm? That, too, is no longer true.They are picked up earlier and again sit in the post office until Monday morning.
Dejoy has raised the price of those Flat Rate Boxes so much that people are looking elsewhere for shipping. A single stamp now costs 73 cents. Seems like destroying the competitiveness of commerce is the objective.
In my search for answers, I contacted Senators Wyden and Merkley as well as Congressman Blumenauer in Washington D.C. I
Mountain Times owners for contributing their experiences with Peggy to the story.
It has been a real kick gathering so many similar anecdotes from folks who have sat in this publisher’s chair before me. I want to take the opportunity to thank Peggy personally for all her hard work and dedication she gave to this newspaper while I have been at the helm. And I wish her nothing but happiness and success in her retirement adventures. I know our paths will cross frequently as I look forward to our continued lunches on the Mountain.
LETTERS TO THE
have come to learn that DeJoy wants to consolidate and cut services and has plans to lay off 50,000 postal workers!
Rural communities like ours will feel the most pain of these cuts and increases. Many mountain residents rely on the mail for deliveries of medications they need in what used to be a timely manner. Small businesses based up here on the mountain that ship products will also feel the negative effects.
Many of our mail carriers are still working hard to do their job of delivering mail. Some of them might be in jeopardy of losing those jobs. Could we possibly be losing a couple of our much needed post offices here on the mountain in the near future?
Another issue is at stake. It is an IMPORTANT ELECTION year.
We Oregonians benefit from the convenience of being a mail-in state. We can take our ballot to a drop box or bring it to the post office. This year it is imperative that the ballots we mail arrive on time.
I would encourage you fellow mountain residents to get involved. Write a letter or email our senators and make some noise! Let them know you support their fight on our behalf.
You can also thank your local mail delivery person for their hard work, work that many of us take for granted!
Mo Haddon
DEAR MS. HADDON
Thank you for contacting me regarding the recent plan to close postal distribution centers in parts of rural Oregon. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue. Oregonians rely on the Postal Service for life-saving medications and time-sensitive documents and correspondence. This is especially true in rural parts of Oregon. Post offices, and the services they provide, are vital to the economic health of rural communities. They also add tremendous value to Oregon’s commerce and are often a center of civic life in rural parts of the state. As
Cheers, Peggy, to a fantastic job done!
Sincerely,
Matthew Nelson
Your Publisher, The Mountain Times.
If you have an idea for a story, have a classified, milestone or an event you would like to have published, or if you own a business and would like to advertise with us, please give us a call at 503-570-3404.
PUBLISHER
a vote-by-mail state, a fully operating Postal Service is at the core of Oregon’s democratic process. Unfortunately, it seems that Postmaster DeJoy does not see the Postal Service as the vital service that it is. Time and time again he has expressed a willingness to throw postal workers under the bus and jeopardize service to rural areas. He has even said he plans to cut as many as 50,000 jobs and consolidate delivery centers, which disproportionately impacts rural delivery.
I have joined colleagues in condemning Postmaster DeJoy for his inaction on ongoing staffing shortages and hiring issues. I have also joined Senator Merkley in asking the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government to prevent the downsizing of distribution facilities in rural Oregon. Please rest assured that I’ll continue to do everything in my power to ensure the Postal Service continues to serve all Oregonians for years to come, especially those in rural communities of Oregon.
Again, thank you for keeping me apprised of the issues that are important to you. If I may be of further assistance to you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Ron Wyden
United States Senator
A year ago around this time (late August to early September) we were experiencing the Camp Creek fire. As I was walking my dogs in the wee hours (as I do), I was observing the night sky (as I do) and noticing the smoke from the wildfire--in particular, how it was affecting the appearance of the moon. I wrote a series of haikus over the course of a couple of weeks and was wondering if you would find them worthy of publication in the September issue of The Mountain Times. I’m attaching them as a PDF. Please let me know your opinion. Thank you!
The Moon and Wildfire Smoke: A Haiku Journal
LETTERS POLICY
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Friday, August 25, 2023
Deep gold half circle
Like a coin clipped in minting Smoke from the wildfire
Sunday, August 27, 2023
Another strange moon
This one pink with red halo Smoke from the wildfire
Monday, August 28, 2023
Can’t see moon tonight
Don’t know if it’s just clouds or Smoke from the wildfire
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
In the rain-washed sky
White moon above dark clouds or Smoke from the wildfire?
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Bright blue super moon
Circled by hazy rainbow Smoke from the wildfire
Thursday, August 31, 2023
In bright, hazy sky
The moon drifts in and out of Smoke from the wildfire
Friday, September 1, 2023
Moon just past the full Beautiful day, clear night; not much Smoke from the wildfire
Saturday, September 2, 2023
Clouds light and clouds dark Moon creates both when there’s no Smoke from the wildfire
Sunday, September 3, 2023
No moon; misty rain
Patters on leaves, washing out Smoke from the wildfire
Monday, September 4, 2023
Clouds blanket the sky
Obscuring if there’s any Smoke from the wildfire
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Waning half moon shines Cold, clear air holds no trace of Smoke from the wildfire
Anya Blasser Rhododendron
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
Matthew Nelson matt@mountaintimesoregon.com
CONTENT MANAGER
Kaity VanHoose
BILLING
Tara Weidman tara@activemediausa.com
STAFF WRITERS
Patti Jo Brooks, Donovan Darling, Amber Ford, Adrian Knowler, Lucas Holmgren, Robert Matsumura, Joe O’Leary, Ty Walker
AD DESIGN & LAYOUT
Morgan King morgan@activemediausa.com
AD SALES Zac Wright zac@mountaintimesoregon.com
AMBASSADOR
Peggy Wallace
CIRCULATION MANAGER Tom Tarrants
CONTRIBUTORS
Bradford Bixby, Dr. Melanie Brown DC, Milt Fox, Robert Kelly DMD, Lloyd Musser, Gary Randall, Steve Wilent, Michelle M. Winner PO Box 1031, Welches, OR 97067 503.570.3404 www.mountaintimesoregon.com
The Mountain Times is an independent monthly newspaper serving Sandy, Brightwood, Wemme, Welches, Zigzag, Rhododendron, Wildwood, Government Camp and Boring. 8,500-plus copies printed and distributed monthly. Printed at Eagle Web Press in Salem, Oregon.
The Mountain Times is an associate member of ONPA
Inside Salem Opinion
Legislator’s Letter: An Update from Rep. Jeff Helfrich
For many of us with kids, September feels like the start of the new year. Classes begin after a long but often enjoyable summer, and we settle back into the rhythm of our day-today lives. This September should feel like the start of a new chapter for all Oregonians. Effective September 1st, 2024, our law enforcement officials will once again be able to cite individuals for the
possession of hard drugs. With the recent passage of House Bill 4002, we did re-criminalize drugs, but it is important to recognize that it didn’t take us entirely back to the way things were before Measure 110. The voters clearly expressed their will to have more treatment options for individuals struggling with drug addiction. In this piece I will highlight what you can and can’t
expect to happen starting September 1st.
It’s important to first address what re-criminalization will look like. Most notably our law enforcement officers will once again be able to cite individuals for possession of hard drugs. This new citation (a drug enforcement misdemeanor) will have ways of avoiding any criminal penalties, by remanding people to local deflec -
WHERE TO WRITE TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
PRESIDENT / Joseph Biden (D)
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave
Washington DC 20500
202.456.1111 (comments)
202.456.1414 (info/switchboard)
www.whitehouse.gov/contact
GOVERNOR / Tina Kotek (D) State Capitol Building
900 Court Street NE, Ste 160 Salem, OR 97301
503.378.4582 (msg line)
503.378.6827 (fax)
http://governor.oregon.gov
U.S. SENATOR / Ron Wyden (D)
District: 0S1 - United States Senate
223 Dirksen Senate Off. Bldg Washington, DC 20510
202.224.5244 (tel)
202.228.2717 (fax)
http://wyden.senate.gov
Portland Office: 911 NE 11th Ave, #630 Portland, OR 97232
503.326.7525
U.S. SENATOR / Jeff Merkley (D)
District: 0S2 - United States Senate
313 Hart Senate Off. Bldg Washington, DC 20510
202.224.3753 (tel)
202.228.3997 (fax) http://merkley.senate.gov
Portland Office: 121 SW Salmon #1400 Portland, OR 97204
503.326.3386 (tel) 503.326.2900(fax)
US REPRESENTATIVE
Earl Blumenauer (D) / District: 003
U.S. House of Representatives 1111 Longsworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
202.225.4811 (tel)
202.225.8941 (fax) http://blumenauer.house.gov
tion programs focused on providing treatment to those suffering from substance use disorders (SUD-s). This “carrot and stick” approach will hopefully encourage more individuals to seek treatment and break the cycle of addiction.
What will be missing from the changes, however, is notable as well. My caucus and I advocated strongly during the session (we
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Jeff Helfrich (R) District: 052
900 Court Street NE, H-473 Salem, OR 97301
503.986.1452 (tel) rep.JeffHelfrich @oregonlegislature.gov
STATE SENATOR
Daniel Bonham (R) / District: 026
900 Court Street NE, S-316 Salem, OR 97301
503.986.1726 (tel) Sen.DanielBonham @oregonlegislature.gov http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/ bonham
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Ellen Rosenblum
Oregon Dept of Justice 1162 Court Street NE Salem, OR 97301
503.378.4400 (tel) www.doj.state.or.us
had our own bill that incorporated these changes) to include increased penalties for dealers when their product resulted in the death of an individual, or if they had a prior conviction. That was left out of the final bill. We also advocated for escalating punishments for repeat offenders, looking to curb the hemorrhaging of taxpayer dollars to individuals who are not honestly seeking help. That was not in the final bill. Most importantly, Republicans advocated for parents and guardians to be able to mandate treatment for their minor child. That was also left out of the final bill. It is unreasonable that the only way a guardian can fulfill their obligation to provide care for a child with a SUD is by calling the cops on them. While there will be changes coming this
STATE TREASURER
Tobias Read (D)
350 Winter St. NE #100 Salem, OR 97301
503.378.4329 (tel) Oregon.Treasurer@state.or.us
SECRETARY OF STATE LaVonne Griffin-Valade 136 State Capitol Salem, OR 97310
503.986.1500 (tel) oregon.sos@state.or.us https://sos.oregon.gov
CLACKAMAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Commissioner Tootie Smith (Chair) Commissioners: Ben West
Paul Savas
Martha Schrader
Mark Shull
(e-mail: bcc@co.clackmas.or.us) 2051 Kaen Rd, Oregon City, OR 97045
503.655.8581 (tel)
503.742.5919 (fax)
month, it is important to keep in mind the obvious things that were left out of the final product. My fellow Republicans and I are committed to bringing these common sense changes to the forefront of our conversations regarding drug possession and use. Yes, we must treat drug addiction as the mental health crisis it is, but we also must be able to prosecute those who are poisoning our citizens. We must also give parents the ability to help their children with their addiction. Only then can we really hope to have cleaner streets and a healthier and drug free Oregon.
As always, you can reach me at Rep.JeffHelfrich@oregonlegislature. gov or 503-986-1452. My office and I would love to hear from you.
COUNTY SHERIFF
Angela Brandenburg
2223 Kaen Rd, Oregon City, OR 97045
Emergency No. 9-1-1 Non-Emergency to Report a Crime 503.655-8211
503.655.8549 (fax)
CITY OF SANDY
City Manager, Jordan Wheeler
Mayor Stan P. Pulliam Councilors:
Chris Mayton
Laurie J. Smallwood (President)
Richard Sheldon
Kathleen Walker
Carl Exner
Don Hokanson
39250 Pioneer Blvd., Sandy, OR 97055
503.668.5533 (tel) ci.sandy.or.us
Steel Wheels and Thundering Change: The History of Railroads in Oregon
By Robert Matsumura
The Mountain Times
A train whistle in the distance. The thunderous roar of steel wheels rolling down the tracks. Most of us take these everyday sounds for granted, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the din of a locomotive was synonymous with commerce and modernity as America grew to be an industrial giant on a global scale. It was no different in Oregon. As the great migration west pushed across the Great Plains through the Rockies and on to California and the Pacific Northwest, so too, came the railroads. Although connecting Oregon to the famous transcontinental railroad had been proposed previously, once prior to the Civil War and again shortly thereafter by Byron J. Pengra and William Chapman, respectively — both surveyor generals of Oregon — only modest progress had been made. In 1868, bold entrepreneur Ben Holladay set out to connect Oregon to the Union Pacific transcontinental railroad under construction in California. His Oregon and California Railroad (O&C) successfully completed a route south from Portland to Roseburg, but was forced to a halt due to
high expenses and insufficient financing.
Still, despite failure to further connect to the transcontinental railroad, the O&C benefited the budding Oregon economy greatly as it connected the farmers of the Willamette Valley with Portland and its shipping facilities. By 1882 the O&C line had come under the control of the Southern Pacific Company. Construction resumed on the tracks and reached the California border in 1887, thus achieving connection with the transcontinental line. In the early history of Oregon, numerous cities in the Willamette Valley and south to the California border rose and fell in prominence in relation to the Southern Pacific Railroad, as its presence brought wealth and relevance to some while marginalizing others into obscurity.
As for connecting to the transcontinental railroad to the east, it was Henry Villard who really got the ball rolling. Hired in 1879 by German investors to represent their interests in the Oregon and California Railroad Company, Villard purchased two existing Oregon transportation firms and merged them to form the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company (OR&N). In competition with James J. Hill of the Great North-
to national and global markets. These short line railroads included the Willamette Valley Southern (Oregon City, Molalla, Mt. Angel), the Oregon Pacific (Portland and Canby), the Carlton and Coast Railroad (upper reaches of the Yamhill River), and Oregon & Northwestern (Eastern Oregon), among others.
ern Railway, who was attempting to establish an eastern connection with the transcontinental from rival Seattle, Villard was determined to beat Hill to the punch. A master of the strategic maneuvering required in the cutthroat game of railroad construction and investment, Villard, through his purchase of the Oregon Steamship Navigation Company (OSNC), gained ownership of existing tracks along the Columbia River. By 1883 Villard had also gained control of the Northern Pacific, and by linking their line to OSNC’s line, was finally able to complete Oregon’s eastward connection to the transcontinental railroad. A year later, Villard forged an additional transcontinental connection via his Oregon Shortline Railroad which hooked up with the Union Pacific line in Wyoming to the southeast.
For those not well acquainted with railroad terminology, “short line” railroads are independently operated railroads that cover shorter distances and connect shippers with larger freight networks. These short line railroads are a critical part of the supply chain, as they allow many shippers not directly located along major railroad lines to transport their products to market. While Oregon’s railroad history understandably focuses heavily upon the development of the major railroads — the Northern Pacific, Union Pacific, and others — and their efforts to connect Oregon to the transcontinental railroad, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the many short line railroads linking farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and logging operations
Despite the fact that populists at the turn of the century resisted railroads as emblematic of the ills of industrialization, viewing their rise as a degradation of traditional agrarian ideals, the majority of Americans embraced the convenience and efficiency they brought. With the dawn of the 20th century, Portland was a national hub for both passengers and freight, being serviced by the Union Pacific, Northern Pacific, Great Northern and Southern Pacific railroads.
As a major railroad city, it was decided that Portland should have a train station befitting its stature as a significant center of commerce. Henry Villard spearheaded the effort to build what would eventually come to be Union Station, hiring the famous East Coast architectural firm McKim Mead & White to design it. The firm’s proposed plan would have made Portland’s new train station the largest in the world at the time. However (likely due to cost), a more modest plan was eventually accepted. This smaller plan proposed by architects Van Brunt & Howe commenced construction in 1890, and was completed six years later. Originally named Union Depot, the station opened for business February 14, 1896. The project was financed by the Northern Pacific Terminal Company at a cost of $300,000 (approximately $9.77 million in 2021).
The signature architectural feature of the station was its 150-foot Romanesque Revival style clock tower. In 1948 the tower’s iconic neon “Go by Train” signs were added on the northeast and southwest sides and “Union Station” on the other two sides. With the creation of Amtrak in 1971, and its prominence as the primary operator of passenger trains in the
editorials, often stirring lively debates. When Larry and Fran moved to France in 2015, they ran the paper remotely, demonstrating their trust in Peggy and her colleague, Garth Guibord. Eventually, Garth purchased the paper from Fran and ran things, until he sold to Matt Nelson in the Spring of 2023.
Matt, now the newspaper’s current owner, brought a fresh perspective and a deep commitment to the community when he took over. His approach is characterized by honesty, sincerity, and a genuine passion for the stories that shape the lives of those living on the mountain. Peggy appreciated Matt’s dedication to preserving the newspaper’s legacy while also introducing innovative ideas to adapt to the changing times. His warm and approachable nature made him wellliked among the staff and the community. Throughout her tenure, Peggy stepped into the role of community ambassador. As an
ambassador, Peggy was more than just the face of the paper. She was a friend, a neighbor, and a confidante, checking in on businesses and residents. Her deep ties to the community were evident in every interaction, and she has always advocated for those around her. Looking back, Peggy hopes her legacy will be one of dedication and love for the Mt. Hood community. “My work at the paper was an honor and a labor of love,” she says.
Peggy’s retirement marks the end of an era for The Mountain Times, but her presence will still be felt throughout our community. Although she is stepping back from her official role, we can take comfort in knowing that she will continue to contribute in small ways and remain a steadfast supporter. As we bid farewell to Peggy’s formal duties, we are reassured that she will always be a cherished member of our community, advocating for the friends,
neighbors, and acquaintances she has come to love. Thank you, Peggy, for your years of dedication and for shaping the heart of our community newspaper.
NOTES FROM FORMER PUBLISHERS
“Peggy Wallace joined the Mountain Times when it was still in its infancy, in the mid-1990s, and it was obvious, right away, that she was a perfect fit with our team. Her journalistic skills proved to be solid, and she had a nose for a good story.
Then, with just a bit of software training, she started building ads, proofing them and working directly with the advertisers. And those advertisers absolutely loved working with her. And so did we. Peggy was instrumental in building the newspaper, its look and feel, from its earliest days.
Here we are, close to 30 years later, with Peggy still at the center of the Mountain Times newsroom. Following several publishers, and many, many newspapers later, she is retiring. I am sure that the current Mountain Times staff will miss her level head and creative input, and that huge knowledge base of the Mount Hood community that she’s built up over the years. Those years with Peggy at my side will live on forever in the mind of this former editor and publisher of the Mountain Times. Enjoy, Peggy! You will be so missed.”
–Marie Kennedy
“Lara and I first met Peggy Wallace when we bought The Mountain Times in 2001. Tom Tevin, the previous owner, had high praise for Peggy’s work, and we asked her to stay with the MT. We were incredibly relieved that she agreed. I don’t know how we would have managed to produce our first few editions without Peggy. She knew the routine well and calmly guided us as we scrambled to assemble the many parts of each edition — articles, ads, the calendar of events, classified ads, and so on — and deliver them to the printer. Her ability to stay cool, calm, and collected during the monthly deadline rush made Peggy an invaluable part of the team. And she knows the Mountain and its people and history as well as anyone. Peggy stayed on with the MT after we sold the paper to Fran and Larry Berteau in 2008. Peggy has been a friend since way back in 2001 — we’re very glad to know her. Fred Rogers, aka Mr. Rogers, once said, “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” Big hugs and best wishes as you begin something else, Peggy!”
–Steve and Lara Wilent
“When Larry and I bought The Mountain Times from Steve and Lara Wilent in 2008, I had the distinct
privilege of meeting Peggy. At the time, Peggy was designing ads for the MT and we were delighted and felt extremely fortunate to have her come onboard with us. From our first MT rolling off the press until our last, Peggy has been by our side. She is a delight to be around and Larry and I had huge confidence in Peggy during our time at the helm.
Over the many years that the MT has been in publication, Peggy has been at the forefront in one way or another and is truly the proverbial glue for this newspaper. Compassionate and competent, Peggy has progressed from bygone days of pasting up the paper to the current digital age without breaking her stride.
We absolutely loved working with Peggy. She has an enormous sense of humor and we enjoyed many chuckles together over the years. I still miss the backand-forth banter and laughs with Peggy as we approached our monthly deadlines together. Nothing was too much trouble for Peggy, and she would jump in at a moment’s notice when needed. Peggy deserves her retirement big time. I am very happy Peggy has reached this milestone in her life and wish her the very best – she’s genuinely one of a kind.”
–Frances Berteau
“Peggy Wallace has been as important and indispensable a part of
The Mountain Times as ink and paper. She has done it all, seen it all and given her all for more than 20 years. Beyond her countless accomplishments and contributions as a colleague at The Mountain Times, I am even more privileged to call Peggy my friend, and the wit, intelligence, honesty, kindness and decency she offers has been just as important to me as her work at the paper. Peggy will continue to be a positive and calming influence on the Mountain and beyond, and I look forward to celebrating with her all that she has accomplished and all that she plans to achieve.”
–Garth Guibord
“When I first met Peggy, she let me know that she was open to staying on for about three months to help me with the transition but then planned on retiring. I realized quickly that having Peggy stick around would be invaluable, so I made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. And lucky for me, she accepted. Getting to know her this past year has been the absolute highlight for me in owning this paper. I am very thankful that she gave me that extra time so that we could keep the paper moving along in a somewhat seamless manner. I will miss her monthly contributions greatly, but I am excited for her to experience the next chapter in her life.” – Matt Nelson
Mountain Matters: Hoodland Farmer’s Market
By Amber Ford
Mountain Times
The
Seven years after it first kicked off in the Rendezvous Plaza, the Hoodland Farmer’s Market has grown, evolved and is now a staple within the Mt. Hood Villages. Beginning in 2017 under former Hoodland Farmer’s Market founder Lauren Weller, the Hoodland Farmer’s Market incorporates vendors of all genres of products for both locals and out-of-town guests.
Averaging 10-12 vendors per market, the Hoodland Farmer’s Market offers a variety of fresh produce, flowers and handcrafted goods. “The market provides a great diversity of local, natural
products for the community to purchase,” Hoodland Farmer’s Market Director Kate Brauner said. “From fresh vegetables, fruit, and flowers to handmade goods, to bone broth, herbal teas, eggs, mushrooms, fresh sourdough bread, hot grilled cheese sandwiches, kid’s activities, live music, we have it all,” Brauner added.
Kicking off their season in May and running through October, the Hoodland Farmer’s Market has seen increased sales, foot traffic and vendors since their original kickoff in the Rendezvous Plaza in 2018. “The new location at The Church On The Mountain has been an impactful improvement,” Brauner said. “The church is
extremely supportive of the Hoodland Farmer’s Market. The market is extremely grateful for the generosity of the church,” Brauner added.
While the Hoodland Farmer’s Market has vendors who set up weekly throughout the duration of market season, Brauner says they are constantly looking for new vendors to join their mountain crew. “We are always accepting vendors,” Brauner said. “We prioritize farm fresh goods, prepared food, and fresh hot food for our core vendors. We are accepting crafts vendors for pop-in,” Brauner added.
Recognizing the positive impact the Hoodland Farmer’s Market
has on the community, this once-a-week event encourages community members to take advantage of fresh products which can also be purchased with Oregon SNAP benefits. “The farmers market accepts SNAP and we participate in the Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) program,” Brauner said. “This allows SNAP customers to double up to $20 of their SNAP money turning $20 into $40 usable dollars at the market,” Brauner added.
Although there are other farmer’s markets within driving distance from Mt. Hood Villages, the Hoodland Farmer’s Market’s charm attracts not just locals, but visitors as well. Adhering to
a family-oriented vibe with both customers and vendors, the Hoodland Farmer’s Market’s success revolves around those who support and are dedicated to making it an enduring part of the community. “We are such a tight knit family of vendors,” Brauner said. “We all support one another and celebrate each other’s successes. We also support the reality that most of us have families, and we host an annual Youth Market for our local kids. This allows them to explore being an entrepreneur and creative genius,” Brauner added.
Brauner would also like to extend her grat -
itude and thanks for the overall success of the market to her team. There’s Christen Prudence, Hoodland Farmer’s Market manager for the implementation of infrastructure changes which have benefited the market’s growth, and she thanks Hoodland Farmer’s Market board members Megan Hoopes, John Fischer and Tenaya Waits for their endless help building market events and policies. The Hoodland Farmer’s ends in October but encourages community members to stay tuned as they begin to plan their annual Night Market this winter.
Craft sales will help support Neighborhood Missions, our local food bank and their monthly Free Food Markets.
Arrah Wanna Auction Promises to Be a Roaring ’20s Throwback
By Ty Walker
Times
The Mountain
Dust off those fedoras and flapper dresses. It’s all about the Roaring Twenties this year at Camp Arrah Wanna’s Banquet & Auction. The theme for the camp’s big annual fundraiser is only fitting, as the Mount Hood campground celebrates the 100th anniversary of the main lodge building, originally the Arrah Wanna Inn.
Doors open at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, the banquet is from 5:30 p.m.
to 9 p.m. at 24075 E. Arrah Wanna Blvd. in Welches. The silent auction is at 5:30 p.m., a delicious ’20s-themed dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. and the live auction and program start at 7 p.m. There will be live music, entertainment and a cash bar. Tickets to the event are $65 each, and proceeds go toward camp repairs. So get your zoot suit on or slip into that party dress and let your imagination take you back to the 1920s. Pretend like it’s prohibition and you’re
ordering drinks at the local speakeasy! Fancy and themed banquet attire is encouraged but not required. Fantastic MC’s, raffles and games will enhance the evening.
“We’ve had a few different crises this year,” Camp Arrah Wanna grant writer and fundraising coordinator Erika Zavala said. “This year, fundraising is going to help support the recovering and rebuilding efforts after the camp suffered from fire and freeze damage from winter storms.”
The maintenance shed burned to the ground in a July 15 fire, causing an estimated $500,000 in damages. In April, a mechanical fire in the laundry room caused $25,000 in damages. January winter storms caused $65,000 in damages. Insurance will help cover the cost of the maintenance shed fire but not the other disasters.
Located in the Welches community, Camp Arrah
Wanna is a sprawling campground, conference and retreat center on 120 acres of forestland in the foothills of Mount Hood. The nonprofit camp’s mission is to offer a quiet and peaceful respite from the busy, fast-paced world for groups of 10 to 250 any time of year.
Arrah Wanna has hosted 60 diverse groups and more than 7,000 campers each year. “We are hosting more campers and guest groups each year as the need in our community continues to grow,” Zavala said.
The Northwest Outdoor School Program, which meets 24 weeks a year, is probably the largest program at the camp. Arrah Wanna’s main focuses are the summer youth programs, family camps, adult retreats and summer intern programs, as well as other nonprofit and community-based organizations. Young adult interns, mainly high school students, live at the
camp all summer learning job skills and training.
To buy tickets to Camp Arrah Wanna’s Roaring Twenties Banquet & Auction, go online to
camparrahwannainc.tofinoauctions.com/2024auction/homepages/show or phone 503-622-3189. For more information, go to camparrahwanna.org.
Welches Parent Teacher Community Organization
By Cassie Kanable, WTPCO
For The Mountain Times PARENT TEACHER CORNER
Hello Welches Families! We hope you had a wonderful summer! With the return to school just around the corner, we’re excited to get back to what we love most — serving this incredible community. Whether it’s supporting our teachers, enriching our students’ experiences, or coming together as a community, we’re ready for another fantastic year ahead! Welches is welcoming students back for their first day of school on Tuesday Sept. 3rd. As we kick off the new year, here are a few important dates for our families and community members
Rev it Up
to keep in mind Tuesday 9/17: Volunteer Orientation 3:00-4:00 pm Wednesday 9/18: Volunteer Orientation 8:00-9:00 am Thursday 9/19 : Fall Picture Day
We’re also gearing up for one of our biggest fundraisers of the year — the annual Rainbow Run! This event is a great way to bring our students
together, but we need plenty of volunteers to make it a success. If you’re interested in helping out, please complete your volunteer application and attend one of the upcoming volunteer orientations at the school. Since background checks can take time, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. For more details and to access the
application, scan the QR code following this story or visit https://ws.oregontrailschools.com/. Reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@ welchesptco.org with any questions.
The WPTCO is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving and supporting the students of Welches Schools and the greater Welches community. To stay informed about events, fundraisers, and volunteer opportunities, visit our website at www.welchesptco.org. If you have general questions, feel free to reach out to us at info@welchesptco.org.
and Go to the Sandy Cruisin’ Car Show
By Ty Walker
The Mountain Times
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. It’s time to rev it up and go to the 26th annual Sandy Cruisin’ Car Show on Saturday, Sept. 14, on the grounds of St. Michael Catholic Church. More
than 200 vehicles are expected to roll into the sprawling church lot to compete in the show.
Trophies will be awarded in 23 classes, with winners selected by people’s choice. The Dick Larrowe Memorial Trophy, named after one
of the car show’s founders, will be awarded to the best in show.
“There will be all kinds of cars, anything and everything,” said Anne Chambers, who co-hosts the show with her husband Kevin. “Somebody even entered a pedal car last year.”
Classes of cars include classics of any make or model from from older than 1939 and up to present day. Muscle cars and Mustangs have been popular in years past. Convertibles, custom cars, imports, lowriders, hot rods, sports cars, trucks, utility vehicles, motorcycles and more will be on display.
“We’ll have some real beauties from the early 1900s up through the
current stuff,” Anne said.
The Sandy Cruisin’ Car Show has a storied local history.
The late Dick Larrowe, who worked at the local post office, and his wife, Donna, co-founded and hosted the original car show in 1997 as part of the annual Sandy Oktoberfest. Only German cars were accepted that first year but they opened it to permit all cars in subsequent years.
For 19 years, the car show became a major part of the Oktoberfest celebration, before it joined the Sandy Siesta Festival for a year. For the last five years, the car show has been cruisin’ on its own. It has found a home on the nine-acre grounds of St. Michael Catholic Church.
The show maintains a strong connection with its past, as original co-founder Donna Larrowe still has a hand in running the event with the Chambers.
The car show is free to spectators and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the 9-acre grounds of St. Michael Catholic Church, 18090 SE Langensand Road, Sandy, south one quarter mile off U.S. Highway 26.
This year more than a dozen cars pre-registered for the event. In past years, the number of entrants has varied from 205 to 239, Anne Chambers said.
There’s plenty of space to register your vehicle and starting at 8 a.m. the day of the car show. Cost
is $20 per entry, $10 with each additional class. In order to be eligible for a trophy, vehicles must be registered by noon. All proceeds will go to benefit St. Michael Catholic Church and the local St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry.
Other attractions include raffles and live DJ music all day, along with hot breakfast and chili dog lunch for purchase.
For car show registration forms, go online to stmichaelsandy.org/ sandy-cruisin-car-show. Call Anne and Kevin Chambers for more information at 503-663-5558 or email at sandycarshow@gmail.com.
Meet the Artist: Amber Ford Local
By Amber Ford
The Mountain Times
While I have covered local artists from woodworking to watercolors, photography to hair stylists, I figured it would be an excellent time to introduce your “Meet the Artist” journalist, me. I have now completed my first year as a staff writer for the Mountain Times, understanding the detailed work and creativity that goes into the creation of a journalistic article that is not only factual, researched and drafted, but also creatively approached with an open mind and a thirst for knowledge.
As a graduate of Kent State University with a degree in journalism, the last professional twenty years were not full of the investigative journalism I had anticipated. As life goes typically against plan, I dabbled in banking,
part-time creative writing and my now-fulltime occupation, local coffee shop owner. While writing has never been far from my thoughts, other careers came careening by and my passion to write was placed on the back burner. Now that I am back into the art of the written word, it is an outlet that now has an even bigger and better place in my life.
Although the journalistic approach to writing is a non-biased and complete factual account of names, places and events, becoming a staff writer for the Mountain Times has realigned my focus on writing and is now something I do often as a fun, creative outlet. With several short stories, poems and a novel saved for future adventures, being able to express myself with words is something that
is both a blessing and a curse. The fear of failure and judgment that comes with putting your imagination on paper can be a very nerve-racking experience, but I have found it is better to put those ideas into characters, quotes and a storyline rather than let them go to waste.
As a resident of the Mt. Hood Villages for over a decade now, I have grown to love and appreciate this most beautiful area in so many ways. As a local business owner of Coffee House 26, I have seen the many ups and downs that come with living in a tourist destination. During our shutdown with Covid I decided to take my love for reading and writing and incorporate it into my coffee shop, with the addition of new and used books for sale.
Sharing both my love for coffee and reading was a dream come true, and it truly seemed to ignite a passion in others, too. Those passions came in the form of a book club, book donations and a theme every month for showcased novels. With each passing month as a local journalist, I am reminded why I keep the art of writing a huge part of my life. Each interview, article, draft and final proof continues to inspire me to dig deeper into our community for other passionate artists and newsworthy stories. And while being a business owner, journalist and reading enthusiast is a large part of who I am both professionally and creatively, I will always be Amber Lynn, Youngstown, Ohio native, Mt. Hood local, meatball makin’ cat mom at heart.
Historic Philip Foster Farm to Hold Annual Cider Squeeze
By Ty Walker The Mountain Times
The third Saturday of September is almost here. That means only one thing at the historic Philip Foster Farm. The Cider Squeeze is on. Yes, it’s apple pressing time.
So mark your calendars for Saturday, Sept. 21, and pack your bags with apples because
cider season is here. The annual Cider Squeeze is one of the major fundraisers for the historical farm site in Estacada.
You can get hands-on experience turning apples into fresh cider on one of the eight antique presses provided for the event. There will also be many other activities for kids and adults, includ -
ing crafts, games, live music, dancing, tours of the historic houses, building log cabins, grinding corn, sawing wood, as well as food and vendors.
“We are a hands-on interactive historical site so we like people to come experience stuff,” Farm Program Director
Jennifer Goldman said.
Philip Foster Farm
will open an hour early for the Cider Squeeze, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the one-day event. In general, If you want to bring cider home, it costs $3 a gallon to press your own apples and $10 a gallon to press apples provided by the farm.
Philip Foster was an early Oregon pioneer whose farm dates back
to the 1840s. He is probably best known for helping Samuel Barlow create Barlow Road, an alternate route on the Oregon Trail. Travelers wanting to avoid the dangerous Mighty Columbia River would take Barlow Road around Mount Hood.
“Foster actually rescued Samuel Barlow and his people on the mountain,” Goldman said.
Foster bought the 640-acre land claim in 1847, building a store, house, barn and other structures at the farm.
The farmhouse and barn still stand, and replicas of the store, blacksmith shop and log cabin have been built on the site.
The farm has one of the oldest remaining houses on the Oregon Trail. Built for
Foster’s oldest daughter in 1860, it has been restored along with a house built in 1883 for his son. A replica of the 1851 Eagle Creek Schoolhouse, the oldest public school west of the Mississippi River, was completed a couple of years ago on the original site.
About 5,000 schoolchildren visit Philip Foster Farm each year. It’s located at 22725 SE Eagle Creek Road in Eagle Creek at the end of Barlow Road.
The farm is a private nonprofit organization funded by tours, camps and generous donations.
Three part-time staff and “lots of unbelievable volunteers” run the operation, Goldman said.
Go visit and bring your apples!
The Woodsman: Revised Wildfire Hazard Map: High Hazard for Some Local Properties
By Steve Wilent
For The Mountain Times
A bit more than two years ago I wrote about the State of Oregon’s wildfire risk map and draft regulations, which would have required many property owners to take steps to reduce the risk to their homes and businesses, possibly including penalties for not complying. For a variety of reasons, many property owners were upset with the map and rules. Some disagreed with the risk level assigned to their property. Others were concerned about the potential costs of complying with the regulations and the assessment of penalties for failing to comply. These and other criticisms spurred the state to withdraw the map and revise it.
A draft of the revised map was made public on July 18. You can view it online via the interactive Oregon Wildfire Risk Explorer at tinyurl.com/3ye4penv. The agencies and partners involved in revising the map accepted public input until August 18. When the map and associated regulations are finalized, I’ll let you know.
The new map includes one important change: The 2022 map showed 5 risk levels, from No Risk to Extreme Risk. The revised map includes
three hazard classes: Low, Moderate, and High. (Note that the title at the top of the Oregon Wildfire Risk Explorer map still uses the word “risk”— to avoid confusion, in my opinion, the state ought to change it to the Oregon Wildfire Hazard Explorer.)
Wildfire hazard is defined as the combination of how likely a wildfire is to occur in a specific location (burn probability) and how much heat energy the fire gives off (fire intensity).
What hasn’t changed?
For most properties in our area, the hazard rating is essentially the same as on the 2022 map: If your property was Moderate or High risk on the old map, it is likely to be Moderate or High hazard on the new map. And, as in 2022, the defensible-space regulations will not apply to properties deemed to be at Low or Moderate hazard.
As you can see in the images of the map that accompanies this article, most of the Highway 26 corridor is deemed to be Moderate or High Hazard. Most, but not all, residential and business properties in our area are classified as Moderate Hazard (blue on the map). Timberline Rim, for example, is shown as Moderate. Some, however, are rated as High Hazard, such as most of the properties south and east of the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort’s golf course, along Welches Road and Salmon River Road. Much of Rhododendron and all of Government Camp are High Hazard. The new defensible-space regulations will apply to these properties.
Downtown Sandy
is Low Hazard and is surrounded by areas of Moderate Hazard.
Most of the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands around us, which were listed as High or Extreme risk on the 2022 map, are now in the High Hazard category.
To find the hazard rating for your property, go to the Oregon Wildfire Risk Explorer and type in your street address. When I did so, the map zoomed to my property and showed that its Draft Wildfire Hazard Class is Moderate and that it is within a draft Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) boundary zone. The WUI is defined as “the geographic area where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with forests, rangelands and other vegetation. This area is the transition zone between wildlands and human communities.”
Because my property is at Moderate Hazard, I will not be subject to the defensible space regulations (codes) now being developed. Here’s how the state explains it (see beav.es/hazardmap):
The purpose of the map is to identify zones where structures are exposed to comparatively high hazard (relative to properties across the rest of the State) and, therefore, would benefit the most from investments in and maintenance of defensible space. Only properties that are both in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) and classified as high hazard will be subject to defensible space codes. If a property satisfies both those criteria and also has adequate pre-existing defensible space condi-
tions, those conditions would be accounted for during the assessment and implementation of the defensible space code by the Oregon State Fire Marshal.
This means that most property owners in the Highway 26 corridor will not be subject to the forthcoming defensible space regulations. The owners of High Hazard properties may eventually be required to create a defensible space around their homes or businesses, or improve the existing defensible space.
Regardless of your property’s hazard rating, you don’t need to wait for the revised defensible-space regulations. Homes with defensible space around them stand a much greater chance of surviving a wildfire. Remember that properties at Moderate and even Low Hazard can be burned by wildfires. Many of the 18,000 structures that burned during the 2018 Camp Fire in California would likely have been rated as Moderate or Low Hazard — they were in suburban-style neighborhoods,
not in WUI zones.
Hoodland Fire District’s website has a wealth of information on creating a defensible space. Go to hoodlandfire. us, click on Prevention, and then on Defensible Space.
You may have heard a saying that goes, “The best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago. The next best time is now.”
The same principle
applies to preparing for wildfire: The best time to create a defensible space around your home was last year. The next best time is now.
Have a question about wildfire hazard or defensible space? Know a place on Earth that isn’t at some risk of a natural or human-caused disaster? Let me know. Email: SWilent@gmail.com.
Mt. Hood Golf News
By Bradford Bixby For The Mountain Times
Welcome back, dear reader, to another edition of Fore, the column for the original hackers (not those computer criminals). And hack we do! If
you watch golf on TV you might be lulled into thinking all golf shots are long and straight. Au contraire! I have sent many a shot nowhere near where I aimed. Which is why I hate playing through a
slower group: usually they are on the tee watching us hit as we play through, which is embarrassing enough when I hit that errant shot. But that’s not as bad as the time, early in my golf career when I played through the family of four waiting on the side rough out of the way. I of course crushed a shot that rocketed toward them at a height of four feet. They tumbled to the ground like bowling pins and my ball passed right over them. You can’t apologize properly for that. Luckily, I missed them but the list of things I’ve hit includes a mailbox, a porch, a barbecue on a porch, a swimming pool, a woman’s raft as she floated in a pool, a number of roofs, a second floor porch rail, a gooey duck, a Canadian goose, a tractor, a bunch of golf carts, a telephone pole and four people. Then there was the ball I bounced into a passenger window that bruised the bicep of the driver. Oops.
As the accompanying picture indicates, we have a new member of the Hole-In-One Club.
On Friday August 2nd, Barbara Mulligan aced the 5th hole on Thistle using a 6 rescue iron.
Karel Tercek and Linda Underwood were there to witness the shot and congratulate her. All I can add is a hearty “well done!”
I want to thank the employees who worked so diligently to make our season a success.
The Pro Shop and Cart Barn ran smooth as silk under the guiding hand of Tim Franklin. Expertly manning their posts were Joe Larson, Bob Findlay, Jeremiah Skipper, Micheal Nomura (and his sidekick Baby Vera), Elliot Chelsea, Griffin Solsa, Josiah Thompson, Cayden McKnight, Jeff Priest, Justin Brenner and of course Michel Elliot. This has been a great year thanks to each and every one of you. I also want to take
this opportunity to thank the Beverage Cart girls and the staff of Mallards. Manning the beverage carts with superlative style and grace were Payten Mix, Lauren Patrick, Andrew Gilmore, Stevie Della, Sierra Mesa, Madison Day, Tina Cranford and Lori Cabantoy. Thanks for your strong performance.
The staff of Mallards did an amazing job this season, in particular while Altitude was closed. Under the watchful eye of General Manager Christopher Skipper they exceeded our expectations. The staff included Trevor McGee, Nalia Quiroz, Johnathan Skipper, Rachelle Coakley, Grace Antoinette, and Utkarsh Dabas. You all did a great job and we appreciate it. Well that’s all I have, so get out there and play. When you do, just remember to “Hit ‘Em Straight”!
Sandy Actors Theatre Presents “Aboveboard”
By Daniel Bosserman, Sandy Actors Theatre
For The Mountain Times
A Romantic Classic Situation Comedy with Heart, Laughter, and a Touch of Mischief
Sandy, OR – AUG 15th, 2024 – Sandy Actors Theatre is thrilled to announce its upcoming production of “Aboveboard,” a delightful comedy penned by Peter Bloedel and Emily Kimball. Directed by the talented Patrick Roth, the play will open on September 20 and run through October 13.
“Aboveboard” promises to deliver an engaging blend of humor and heart, as described by Director Patrick Roth: “It’s a romantic classic situation comedy with a lot of heart, a lot of laughter, and a little groping.” The story follows Nick, who
discovers that food is mysteriously vanishing from his apartment fridge. Suspicion falls on his bumbling magician best friend, Milo, who lives just down the hall.
When Milo refuses to come clean, Nick resorts to installing a camera, only to uncover an even more surprising truth — an unexpected trespasser has been secretly living in his apartment for nearly a month.
The production features an impressive cast, including:
Sam Helzer as Milo, the endearing magician with a knack for comedic mishaps
Dylan Horter as Nick, the perplexed protagonist dealing with disappearing food and secrets
Savannah Wakeman as Marnie, adding charm and wit to the ensemble
Olivia Randall as Jessica, bringing depth to the story’s romantic elements
Grady Voigt as Alex, contributing to the play’s dynamic interactions
Kat Wolfdancer as Rosa, adding a unique flair to the narrative.
Enjoy the show in comfort in our newly-installed, brand-new theater seats.
Director Patrick Roth brings a wealth of experience to the production, holding a Certificate of Acting from the Actors Conservatory in Portland. Roth’s work has been deeply influenced by the late Philip Cuomo, renowned for his expertise in clowning. Roth is also dedicating this production to the late Jim Wilhite, a pioneering Artistic Director of Sandy Actors Theatre, whose legacy continues to inspire the theatre community.
Following SAT’ s long-standing custom, Wy”East Artisans Guild will host an exhibition of works by local artists September 19,the evening before opening night. At 6:30 pm, the artists will share some of the inspiration and techniques that went into each piece of art.
This exhibition, following a general theme related to the performances, will be on view throughout the run of the play
Performance Details:
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 2:00 pm
Opening Night: September 20, 2024
Run Dates: September 20 - October 13, 2024
Location: Sandy Actors Theatre, 17433
Tickets: Available at
https://sandyactorstheatre.com/or
For more information, press inquiries, or to arrange interviews with the cast and director, please contact: Dan Bosserman, Sandy Actors Theatre (503) 314-8705
Email: danbosserman@gmail.com
Website: https:// sandyactorstheatre. com/
We look forward to welcoming you to an evening of laughter and romance with “Aboveboard” at Sandy Actors Theatre!
Do
Email kaity@mountain-
Space is limited and not
cation.
Due Date 15th of prior month. Events subject to change without notice.
REPEAT EVENTS
*Denotes that the date changes each year
**Please call Wraptitude for more information at 503.622.0893
***$5 Entry and please call 503.481.5216 or 503.668.3378 for more information
^Please call Al Forno Ferruzza for more information at 503.622.1212
^^Please call Chicali Cantina for more information at 503-564-9091
^^^ $8 for 10 games, snacks are available for purchase, doors open at 6pm
~Please email Wy’East Zen Center for more information at info@wyeastzencenter.org
# Please call 503-884-0936 for Tickets, suggestion donation
with
Hoodland Shuttle Co. Brings New Transportation Options to The Mountain
By Ty Walker
The Mountain Times
There’s a new transportation service on the mountain – Hoodland Shuttle Company.
owner Ryan Barnes said. “I’ve heard stories from different lodging places from Mt. Hood Resort to Timberline Lodge telling me how people sometimes take two or three buses to get up here.
“There’s no Uber up here. Uber and Lyft drivers won’t come up here unless their job starts in town (Portland area). I’ve thought we needed more transportation options on this mountain for a long time, so I decided to go ahead and start it up.”
Operating for only three months, Hoodland Shuttle business is doing pretty well this summer, Barnes said. He expects it to pick up more during the winter season with all the recreation Mt. Hood has to offer.
advance reservation.
Hoodland Shuttle also offers special wine tours to Hood River Valley and is looking into adding tours to the Oregon Coast.
“We want to meet the needs of the mountain, get locals around safely where they want to go and likewise get tourists to the trailhead, wine tour or to the airport,” said Barnes, who’s lived in Cherryville for 30 years.
Hoodland Shuttle has a fleet of three vehicles to get you where you want to go in luxury.
Its main area of operation is the Mt. Hood corridor between Sandy
Opened since April, Hoodland Shuttle is a first-class private for-hire car service that caters to Mount Hood locals and visitors alike. It picks you up where you are and takes you where you want to go.
and Government Camp, but drivers also respond to calls from Boring, Estacada and Parkdale. Most of its business is taking locals to and from Portland International Airport, but it also shuttles mountain bikers,
hikers, skiers and snowboarders to recreation destinations on Mt. Hood.
“I’ve lived on this mountain all my life and transportation has always been an issue,” Hoodland Shuttle Co.
Over the last two weeks, he has had multiple calls for airport shuttles, picked up hikers from the Pacific Crest Trail and visitors from Timberline Lodge. Regular hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays and Mondays by
Vehicles include a Toyota Highlander all wheel drive, 7 passenger with bike rack; a Dodge Caravan front wheel drive for 7 passengers; and a Sprinter Van that seats 12. There’s also a 12-bike trailer used for excursions to the Timberline To Town Trail.
To book a ride or explore Hoodland Shuttle services further, go online to https://www. hoodlandshuttle.com.
Local News/Transportation Focus
Mt. Hood Taxi: Service With a Smile
The
By Ty Walker
Mountain Times
Dennis Bachman started Mt. Hood Taxi service just a few years ago with one old car, a Ford Taurus. He was retired and wanted something to keep him busy during the end of the Covid pandemic.
When he added a second car, he recruited a friend and neighbor from Welches to join him as a driver. Together, they provide taxi service with a personal touch to the Mount Hood community.
“We’re both retired,”
Bachman said. “We’re both elderly. We’re doing this as a service more than a business.”
Mt. Hood Taxi takes reservations 24 hours a day by phone or text at 503-750-2010. Services include round trip and one way to Portland International Airport, Timberline Lodge and all Mount Hood resorts, event venues, as well as weddings and custom tours.
Bachman said he provides services to the community that other businesses are not providing.
“If you reserve with
me, I will come and go and do what you need,” Bachman said.
Bachman recently took a man to the Portland VA and waited during his appointment to give him a ride home. For more information, call Mt. Hood Taxi at 503-750-2010.
Evergreen Mt. Hood Delivers Right to Your Doorstep
By Ty Walker
The Mountain Times
Evergreen Mt. Hood delivers food from 16 restaurants.
Not to be confused with Hoodland Shuttle service, also new to the mountain, Evergreen Mt. Hood Delivery is in the business of delivering products, not transporting people.
Evergreen Mt. Hood Delivery is a locally owned and operated service that delivers restaurant takeout food, groceries and firewood to Mt. Hood residents and visitors. Opened since May, Evergreen has formed partnerships with most of the restaurants on the mountain.
“We currently deliver from 16 restaurants but we’re looking to expand to more,” said Ever -
green’s entrepreneurial owner Kendra Wagner, who runs the business with co-owner and life partner Nick Kent. “We deliver most anything a restaurant offers, including beer and wine, plus to-go cocktails (limited to 2 per entree).”
Wagner has 20 years experience in the restaurant business and still works mornings at Chicali Cantina. So she knows her way around the local restaurant scene.
Evergreen delivery provides service to customers from as far west as Brightwood east to Government Camp. Some of the restaurants currently on board include the Glacier Public House, Mogul Mountain Pizza, Chicali Cantina,
Pub 26, The Rendezvous Grill, and The Zig Zag Inn. Evergreen also delivers groceries from Dollar General in Welches and Govy General Store in Government Camp.
For a taste of how it all works, go to www.evergreenmthood.com for full online ordering. If you
have special requests, phone 971-533-6354. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Saturday. It is closed on Tuesday.
“If people have a special request, they can call us and we can usually make that happen,” Wagner said.
The Whole Tooth: Plant Antioxidants May Help Periodontal Disease in Smokers
By Dr. Robert Kelly, D.M.D. General Dentist, McKenzie Dental
I’m always interested in hearing about dental news that doesn’t fit the traditional approaches of the past. So if you’ve read my articles over the years you can probably tell when there is some goofy, unique, odd-ball news related to dentistry! Previous articles about teeth jewelry, hypnotism in place of anesthesia
and dentistry in barbershops come to mind.
I recently found a study from the Journal of Periodontal Research that found that a plant flavonoid named Quercetin helped reduce the negative effects of cigarette smoking on periodontal health. Quercetin is a plant flavonoid that is found in some fruits and vegetables such as apples, onions, dark berries and red wine. Flavonoids are compounds found in plants that we ingest when we eat them and some of them can have positive effects on our overall health. They are known to be antioxidants and can be anti-inflammatory agents for the body.
Cigarette smoke is
believed to contribute to periodontal disease and bone loss over time. The mechanism may be its deleterious effects on both the periodontal ligaments which hold our teeth in our mouth and also the oxidative stress on our cells that can trigger bone loss around our teeth.
A recent study by Dr. Sheng Yang showed that the Quercetin flavonoid helped shield the periodontal ligaments’ cells and the jaw bone around teeth from the deleterious effects of cigarette smoke, compared to the groups that did not have the Quercetin.
Of course it may be a while until we know the exact pathway and so a simple cure is not there yet. This does high -
light, however, what we have known for quite some time now, which is that the whole body is connected and the mouth is not separate from the rest of the body. It may not be a magic silver bullet but eating healthy foods probably does make a big difference in our gum, periodontal, and teeth health over time whether you’re a smoker or not.
There are definitely times when medications are needed to treat disease. But, if eating some Quercetin in our diet helps stave off some disease and maybe reduces the amount of pharmaceutical medicines we have to ingest, that to me seems preferable. So pass over some blueberries and apples!
Readers Have Spoken: Welcome Your New Mascots
The Mountain Times is thrilled to announce the conclusion of our highly anticipated mascot contest. After weeks of voting, our readers have selected Huck L. Berry as the newspaper’s official mascot. Huck, with his lively personality and vibrant green shirt, perfectly embodies the spirit of adventure and community that The Mountain Times represents. But the news doesn’t end there. Recognizing the invaluable contributions of longtime
employee Peggy Wallace, who has been the heart and soul of the newspaper for decades, the editorial team decided that one mascot simply wasn’t enough. In Peggy’s honor, a second mascot has been introduced—Peggy Bear. Wearing a distinctive blue shirt, Peggy Bear symbolizes the warmth, dedication, and unwavering commitment that Peggy has brought to the paper and its readers over the years.
Together, Huck L. Berry and Peggy Bear will represent The Moun-
tain Times in all future endeavors, from community events to special editions. Huck will lead the charge in keeping the spirit of the mountain alive, while Peggy Bear will remind everyone of the newspaper’s rich history and the people who have shaped it. These two mascots, each with their unique charm, will undoubtedly become beloved figures in the community, just as the newspaper itself has been for so many years.
By Dr. Melanie Brown Chiropractic Physician, Mountain Life Clinic
While traveling, I brewed my morning cup of coffee with a Keurig and started to wonder about the plastic pod I was using. We’ve all heard the warnings about microwaving food in plastic containers, but what about these Keurig cups?
Studies have shown that plastic can release microplastics when exposed to high heat. And yes, Keurig cups aren’t exempt from this. Sipping on tiny plastic particles with my coffee wasn’t exactly appetizing, and it got me thinking about how much microplastic we might
unknowingly consume daily.
Living in Oregon, we’re conscious about the environment. Many of us recycle, use reusable bags, and try to reduce waste, but microplastics are a sneaky pollutant that’s much harder to avoid. Did you know that outdoor gear, like those cozy fleece jackets we all love, can significantly contribute? When washed, these fabrics shed tiny plastic fibers that end up in our waterways. Microplastics have made their way into oysters harvested along the Oregon coast. It’s disturbing to think that our beloved seafood is contaminated because of the clothes we wear. Even more alarming, research suggests that the average person could be ingesting about five grams, equivalent to a credit card’s worth of microplastics each week! This statistic is mind-boggling, and it’s not just in food — plas -
tics are in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and even in the salt we sprinkle on our food.
Microplastics are everywhere, and many everyday products contribute to our exposure. For example, plastic teabags, which release microplastics when steeped in hot water, are a hidden source. Chewing gum is another, as most “gum base” is made from synthetic plastics. Even the dust in our homes contains microplastics from synthetic carpets, furniture, and household items.
So what does all this mean for our health? Studies indicate that microplastics can cause inflammation, disrupt hormones, and potentially lead to long-term health issues. The long-term effects are still being studied, but the potential risks are enough to make anyone think twice about their plastic consumption.
While microplastics are pervasive, being mindful of our plastic use can help reduce our exposure. Ditching single-use plastics, especially plastic water bottles, is a big step. Opt for alternatives like stainless steel or glass bottles. Avoid heating food or drinks in plastic containers. Use looseleaf tea instead of plastic teabags, and look for natural chewing gum without synthetic polymers. Investing in a good air purifier and vacuuming regularly with a HEPA filter can also help reduce the amount of microplastic dust in your home.
On a brighter note, Keurig has recognized the issue and is developing a new machine that uses plastic-free pods called K-Rounds. This is a clear example of how research and conscientious consumers can help spark positive changes. Hopefully, we will see more companies follow suit!
2000 tiny pieces of plastic every week.
Hoodland Women’s Club Highlights
By Cathy Lavin, HWC
For The Mountain Times
August 15th was a quintessential Pacific Northwest day, neither too wet nor too warm, for the Hoodland Women’s Club’s (HWC) 20th annual tournament and fundraiser, with more than 130 golfers scrambling to support the Hoodland community.
The tournament was followed by lunch provided by memberowned businesses Busy Bee Catering and Mogul Mountain Pizza, along with a live auction and raffle, featuring HWC
member Kim Stuck as auctioneer. Among the 15 items featured in the live auction were a number of vacation packages that included food, lodging, and entertainment. The 26 themed baskets awarded to holders of winning raffle tickets included packages for family-focused entertainment and luxury self pampering, as well as tickets to the Oregon Shakespearean Festival and the Portland Timbers.
A large portion of the funds raised through the tournament came from local sponsors. This year marked the tournament’s
first ever diamond level ($2,500) sponsorship, All County Real Estate (ACRE), owned by HWC member Adriane Bovero. HWC extends a huge “thank you” not only to ACRE, but to its gold ($1,000), silver ($500) and bronze ($250) level sponsors as well as to all the Hoodland Community friends and neighbors who helped this year’s tournament raise funds for five local scholarships and other neighborhood community fund needs that fulfill the HWC mission and vision: “Empowering each other to achieve a better
community”.
The 2024 tournament’s gold-level sponsors included FreeUp Storage Facilities, Evergreen Home Loans, Sandy Decor, and the Karen and Ed Bassett Fund. Becca Kolibaba Real Estate, Inc., Mountain Life Clinic, Welches Smoke Vape & Gifts, Hoodland Bazaar, Clackamas County Bank, The Mountain Cru, Thriftway, Mt. Hood Cannabis Company, Mike and Carol Stout, Ever Fresh Fruit Company, Sandy Grocery Outlet, Safeway, Whistle Stop, Allay Consulting and Skyway were silverlevel ($500) sponsors. In addition, a number of local individuals and businesses were bronze-level ($250) and individual level ($100) sponsors. We are so honored to be a part of this amazing Hoodland community. Thank you for all of your support!
The golf tournament may be in the rearview mirror, but a number of upcoming members-only and community-wide events are already on the calendar. The first of these will be a members-only candle making event on September 21st at Luna & Craft in Welches. On October 24th, HWC will host a costumed Halloween dance at Alpine
Events Center. Watch for HWC’s participation in a local holiday craft fair on November 30th at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort. Two December events are also already on the calendar: a fundraising Photos with Santa activity on December 8th, and a membersonly Bunco & Bubbles social event on December 17th. In February, HWC will host its second annual Sweethearts Ball, one of the Club’s original events that was resurrected in 2023.
This year’s annual HWC picnic took place August 5th at Wildwood Recreation Area. Members who attended welcomed several indi-
viduals who were interested in learning more about the Club. Hoodland community residents, whether full time or part-time, interested in becoming HWC members can join via HWC’s newly updated website (www. hoodlandwomensclub. org). Dues are $25 per year (the fiscal year runs from July 1-June 30). The next general meeting will be Monday, September 9th at 6 p.m. at the Lion’s Club in Welches. Nonmembers interested in attending this meeting can contact HWC at board@hoodlandwomensclub.org.
MOUNTAIN VENUES with MENUS
By Paula Walker
For The Mountain Times
Of equal importance to leaving your affairs neat and tidy with a well-drafted trust or will is the comprehensive checklist that supports this instrument. The biggest gift you can give to those you leave behind is to make it easy for the person you’ve appointed to administer your estate to identify and access your numerous assets. Make the contents, location, and means of access to your entire treasure trove — those many things that constitute your estate and your legacy — easy
and straightforward to locate and manage according to your plan. Do not make the transition a search for buried treasure.
Provide a map: a single point of information that provides the allinone guide to what you have and who to contact for the assistance your administrator will need to wrap things up, close things out and properly maintain them until that occurs. Help them help you fulfill your objective for a smooth, orderly and efficient accounting and transfer of your assets. Your comprehensive trust or will serves the purpose of clearly stating to whom and how to distribute your estate, but they do not identify, in needed detail, where those assets are, the complete listing of all assets, and the means to access them.
This “one stop” source of information is the key — truly. This comprehensive list must include not only each asset or
type of asset but the means of accessing it — the code, if you will, to the treasure chest. Internet accounts — social media accounts, email, online banking to name a few — require passwords and possibly other coded information, “your first car / your favorite first grade teacher / your mother’s maiden name” etc.; financial institutions and banks require personal identification information.
What should you list? Everything. Financial accounts: list the financial institutions, the accounts, the account purpose if relevant to managing their closure ie payments need to be made from them or payments received to them. Retirement accounts. Credit Cards. Internet accounts: social media, email, photo repository. Real Estate holdings: the location of deeds.
Key Advisors: your attorney, financial planner, accountant, insurance agent, your
spiritual/ religious advisor etc. For all of these provide the contact information and location (if, for instance, you deal with a particular branch and representative) and access information –user ids and passwords. Property maintenance: in the interim between your passing and selling your real estate, list the person(s) to call if that property needs maintenance. Property Security, e.g. how to
access your home, keep it secure, not trigger alarms. Personal relationships: add to this a list of personal relationships. These are just a few ideas for the many and varied list of assets that you may have that belong on “your map,”
After creating it, maintain it. Equal in importance to creating your map is maintaining it. As you know, this critical information is always in flux, you
change bank accounts, you make new investments, you change passwords. Review this information annually. Set a date that makes it easy to remember this important task: New Year’s or another date that is key to you and is a convenient time to attend to it. It is a bit of a chore to create your first edition, but revisions can be fairly quick and take reasonably little time to accomplish.
Outdoors
The Angle: Columbia River Fall Salmon Fishing
By Lucas Holmgren
The Mountain Times Fall has arrived. Along with the changing of seasons, salmon that are born in our local rivers and hatcheries return after a journey feeding in the Pacific Ocean. The most famous of salmon in the Columbia River is the “Chinook,” or “King Salmon.” While Spring Chinook are world famous for their
taste, the “Upriver Bright” Chinook of Fall are nothing to sneeze at either.
From August through December, Fall Chinook and Coho Salmon enter the mouth of the Columbia River near Astoria. These fish will navigate to tributaries near the coast, such as the Cowlitz, Lewis, Willamette and Sandy rivers to find a mate to spawn with. The run-timing of
Burke
these fish is as diverse as the landscape of the Pacific Northwest. Large numbers of Chinook and Coho Salmon pass over Bonneville Dam and are counted, some of them headed up past several dams just to reach their river of birth. Because it is the best time of year for overall numbers of salmon, anglers will travel from all over the USA and
beyond to fish for these salmon. Hotels can be filled, gas stations busy and the thrill of catching ocean-run fish in freshwater rivers is in the air.
When a salmon gets close to spawning, their meat loses nutrients and flavor. Because of this, the largest crowds tend to fish closer to the ocean, or in the Pacific itself, to catch the freshest specimens. However, there are Chinook that migrate into smaller tributaries while still in prime condition. This creates some incredible bank, drift boat and raft fishing for those without a larger boat.
The Columbia River is highly regulated to adhere to strict catch quotas and run expectations that are managed tightly. There are regulation booklets that are free in many retail stores, but always be sure to check for emergency rule changes on Oregon or Washington’s Department of fish and Wildlife websites.
Learning salmon fishing can be challenging but extremely
rewarding. I recommend booking a trip with an experienced fishing guide or two, and trying a few different fisheries. If you have a friend who regularly catches fish, you can gain confidence by
having the little details that matter dialed in. If you love eating salmon, once you have one for dinner that you caught just a few hours before… you’ll be ruined for life!
HOW TO SOLVE: Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
HOW TO SOLVE
Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
Each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
Each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
(Answer appears elsewhere in this issue)
Outdoors
The Viewfinder: Dangers of Photographing Alaskan Grizzly Bears
By Gary Randall For The Mountain Times
Grizzly bears are fearsome creatures. They are the apex predators in their territories and when we, as humans armed with nothing more than a camera and some bear spray, enter their environment, we are at a distinct disadvantage. I am stating the obvious of course, but that is something I am aware of when I see one of these beautiful
creatures coming from an Alaskan forest to the river to fish. The feeling must be what our ancient ancestors felt when they were in the presence of a wild animal that could easily make them its dinner.
It is scary and simultaneously exciting when I decide to find and photograph them. I am careful in my planning, aiming to decrease –but not eliminate – the possibility of something going wrong. In this
“They are the apex predators in their territories and when we, as humans armed with nothing more than a camera and some bear spray, enter their environment, we are at a distinct disadvantage.”
case, I decided to take a small group of photographers to a favorite place of mine, the Russian River on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska. It is a place where the bears want only to feed on the fish in the river. And because there are fish in the river, there are humans fishing there with the bears. When humans give the bears their space, the bears go about their business. They want nothing more than to eat.
There’s a boardwalk with short walkways branching from it that gives access to the river.
The boardwalk is there to both protect the natural embankment of the river and allow access to the for fishing. It is a great place for photographers to walk and wait for a bear to come from the forest to fish.
Not long after my group arrived, we heard from some fishermen that there was a bear just down the river from us. We walked cautiously but quickly down the boardwalk until we found a walkway that gave us a clear view of the bear on the opposite bank.
As we quietly sat watching and taking our photos, the bear wandered onto a small gravel beach area and found interest in something near a log.
I looked through my 600mm lens to observe what it was that was holding his attention. It became clear to me that someone who’d been fishing there left their
lunch; the bear was making a quick snack of a sandwich and a bag of potato chips. He was elated, and at one point lay down on his side, rolled over on his back and rubbed the side of his face on the chip bag. It was hilarious to watch that happy bear roll around and play like a cub.
Once he was finished with the lunch, he found a fishing rod holder and proceeded to play with it. He was having such a great time as he inspected it, chewed on it and then swung it around and twirled it like a baton. I must admit, disregarding the fact that the bear was eating and playing with what was essentially human litter, I really enjoyed watching him playing and acting like he had no care in the world. It was certainly a change in the typical behavior that I observe in Alaska and more what one would expect from a bear in a circus. I always envision in advance the photos I’m going to get when I visit the Alaska grizzly bears. I imagine these wild and dangerous-feeling images. On this trip, the photos of the bear eating lunch and playing with a toy in the sunshine trumped those imagined images. It was quite an experience.
The Mountain Times Hits the Airwaves with Podcast
By Donovan Darling
The Mountain Times
In an ever-changing digital world, how does a local newspaper keep up with the times?
This year, The Mountain Times has made monthly issues available online for readers’ convenience — just in case you might have missed this month’s paper — and also to archive and preserve that information for future generations.
In August, The Mountain Times went a step further thanks to the ambitions of Justin Nelson.
As of August 22, the first podcast episode went live for The Mountain Times: Audio Digest, available online at www.mountaintimesoregon.com/podcast.
“I'm super happy with how it’s turned out! This is my first time being the lead of a project
like this.” Justin is no stranger to performing for the public, however. He attended annual acting camps as a child where he performed acting showcases for real agents. “I had a ton of fun participating in that program, and even booked my first agent and went on a few jobs during that time,” Justin said. Playing video games further exposed him to the possibilities of voice acting, and “the way these actors have to bring characters to life only through their vocal performances” really piqued his interest.
What inspired Justin to create The Mountain Times: Audio Digest?
“I see this podcast as the first stepping stone of my career in voice work,” Justin said. Publisher Matt Nelson also wanted to extend the paper into other mediums, Justin
SENIOR CENTER
From Page 1
making sure everything ran perfectly, their hard work made the rummage sale a success.
We were truly touched by the outpouring of community support. It was heartwarming to see so many people join our cause in different ways. Whether you donated items, bought something, enjoyed the music or spread the word, you helped make this event a big success. You made a difference, and together we are helping Hoodland seniors live life to the fullest!
In other exciting news, the Hoodland Senior Center is bring -
said. As The Mountain Times is a lengthy 40 pages, not all articles can make it into the podcast. So, how are they chosen? “The episodes are formatted with three articles per episode in the order that they appear in the paper.” Articles such as profiles, opinions, upcoming events and classifieds are not included in the podcast. News stories are the majority of what’s included in the podcast, which is “a verbatim narration of what is written in the paper,” Justin said.
A newspaper podcast may seem redundant at first, until one considers how people learn and process information differently. “I'm so happy that we are able to provide an audio version of the paper. I hope that it will help anyone who is visually impaired, as well
RAILROAD
From Page 10
ing back the ever-popular congregate lunches. On August 8th, ten folks gathered at Barlow Trail Roadhouse for the kickoff lunch event. We heard your requests to reinstate the senior center tradition of sharing stories and sharing meals through twicemonthly congregate lunches. Future lunch events will be scheduled for the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, locations varying and to be determined. To reserve a spot at the next gathering, call the Hoodland Senior Center at 503-622-3331.
as help folks free up some of their time by listening to the articles while completing other tasks,” Justin said. As journalism continues to evolve and our society continues to quicken its pace and consumption of information, diverse forms of media will need to be available. Print, digital, and now audio, The Mountain Times is available however readers or listeners want to participate in media. “It's interesting to think about how differently everyone absorbs information,” Justin said. “Because this podcast is the narration of a newspaper, there is still a written version for anyone who likes listening to stories while reading along.”
However, there are definite challenges in the adaptation from print to audio. “The trickiest thing to nail down is, without a
doubt, name pronunciations,” Justin said. “I do everything I can to look up names I'm not familiar with, as well as repeating pronunciation before hitting record, just so I can do every name justice. I deeply apologize to anyone whose names I've mispronounced!” The process of preparing to record a podcast involves a voice warmup, as well as practicing lines, Justin said. “It takes me a few takes per paragraph to get all of the inflections and pacing down the way that, I believe, the writers intended them to be read.”
What does the future hold for The Mountain Times: Audio Digest? “At this stage of the podcast we are looking for local businesses to act as sponsors for each episode. We hope that this will help locals discover businesses they might not have been aware of, as well as to support our show.” Listen to The Mountain Times: Audio Digest at www.mountaintimesoregon.com/ podcast or on Spotify. If you own a local business and would like to sponsor an episode, please reach out to Zac Wright at zac@mountaintimesoregon.com.
United States, the major railroad companies focused primarily on the transportation of freight. Over the years many of the railroads merged and consolidated. Union Pacific absorbed Southern Pacific, and Burlington Northern merged with Santa Fe Railway. Both still provide freight service to Portland.
If you wish to learn more about trains in Oregon’s history and view some vintage locomotives as well, take a trip
to the Oregon Rail Heritage Center (ORHC) at 2250 SE Water Avenue in Portland. The ORHC has restored and maintains three original locomotives at their facility — Oregon Railway & Navigation 197, Spokane; Portland & Seattle 700; and Southern Pacific 4449. The next time you hear
the whistle of a train in the distance, or find yourself waiting at a railroad crossing as a train thunders down the tracks, take a moment to appreciate how this symbol of the Industrial Revolution helped shape Oregon and still plays a vital role in the transportation needs of our country.
Mountain Classified Ads
EMPLOYMENT
MT. HOOD CULTURAL CENTER & MUSEUM
Immediate Opening Visitor Services Job Description This employee greets all visitors to the facility. She/he discerns the purpose of their visit and assists them in a professional manner. As the only employee on site, he/she must respond to a variety of on-site management needs, including but not limited to: routine operation of the facility, museum docent, museum store clerk, provide visitor information service to tourists, and perform routine office management duties. Major Duties: Meet and greet visitors. Provide visitor information to tourists. Perform Museum Docent duties to museum visitors. Sales Clerk duties for the museum bookstore. Responsible for the daily operations of the building. Manage the organization’s mail, email and telephone communications. Responsible for webpage updates, and changes. Perform daily janitorial and light maintenance duties. Participate in implementation of fundraising events. Skills, Knowledge, and required Abilities: Outstanding Customer Service Skills. Basic computer skills including Internet, email, word processing, spreadsheets, databases and WordPress. Ability to work without direct supervision on a daily basis. Money management skills. Attention to details with regard to numbers and data. Communication skills, both oral and written. Email resume to: info@mthoodmuseum.org.
In the subject line, note: Visitor Services Position.
MOUNTAIN LIFE CLINIC
Licensed Massage Therapist
Mountain Life Clinic in Welches
Full time with benefits or Part Time
Submit cover letter and resume to frontdesk@mountainlifeclinic.com
Licensed Acupuncturist
Mountain Life Clinic in Welches.
Full time with benefits or Part Time. Submit cover letter and resume to frontdesk@mountainlifeclinic.com
MT HOOD KIWANIS CAMP
SUDOKU
Hiring parttime housekeeping/kitchen help position. Flexible schedule up to 30 hours per week. Email Bryon@MHKC.org for full job description and more information.
CASCADIA GETAWAYS
Hiring experienced housekeepers. Competitive wages and an attractive benefits package. Email hello@casdcadiagetaways.com to set up an interview.
WORK WANTED
Pest, insect and rodent control. Affordable, friendly, honest and efficient. Locally owned and operated since 2004. For an evaluation, call Glenn at 503-784-1669.
FREE STUFF
Free horse manure - I load, you haul. Great for gardens or building up soil. Call 503-260-4993 for more info. Brightwood.
FOR RENT
Furnished, recently renovated single family
2BR/2 Bath/Loft home. Located up Lolo Pass in great neighborhood on .75 acres with fire pit and deck. $2,800 per month + utilities, available Oct. 15 for 6 or 12 month lease. Call 503-7196186 and leave message for more information
SERVICES
MT. HOOD SPECIALTY CLEANING
Licensed property management Roof, gutter, moss removal/ treat, window cleaning , power washing, cleanup & haul always! Local, Current Verifiable refs. 30+ yrs experience. Lic/insured. 503*504*1523
TNT CARPET CLEANING
Residential and Commercial Carpet and upholstery cleaning. Dryer vent cleaning 503-705-0504 Tntcarpetcleaning.com
CHANDLER BURKE LOGGING, LLC
Firewood Split and delivered Stacking options available 503-622-4929 971-404-9522
A TOUCH OF CLASS CLEANING, INC. We clean your house with integrity and excellence, while you experience a quality of life spending time doing what you love! Licensed, bonded, insured. www.toccleaning.com. 503-407-7329
COMPUTER GOTCHA STUCK? Help is just a phone call away: Let Wy’East Computer Solutions proven software, hardware, and networking experience save the day! The area’s MOST TRUSTED COMPTIA A+ Certified computer support professional at the area’s MOST REASONABLE rates! No charge for idle time related to downloads or running processes.
CLIENT REFERENCES AVAILABLE. Call 503.622.9183 or Email ryan@wyeastcs.com TODAY!
Farm Cats. Natural Rodent Control. All neutered. Donations accepted. 503-816-7620
Edited by Margie E. Burke
Beware of Puppy Mills Know where your puppy came from. If you or someone you care about has purchased a dog in a pet store or over the internet, it may be your puppy came from a Puppy Mill. If you think there may be a puppy mill in your community, call 1-877-MILL-TIP
HOW TO SOLVE:
Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9. (Answer appears elsewhere in this issue) 9 6 8 5 6 2 1 7 4 9 2 3 7 8 7 1 8 6 8 5 1 4 9
Make sure that roof is ready for fire season” senior discounts
CASCADE YARD WORKS
Landscape Maintenance Now accepting new accounts!!! Create and maintain a defensible space. Call today for pricing!!! 503-806-2122
JOE’S SCRAPPING. Unwanted cars, trucks and motor homes. Free removal. Put a little $ in your pocket. Call Joe at 503-622-6392
CAROL’S COMPLETE CLEANING. Cleaning from Sandy to Government Camp since 1991. Specializing in Residential and Commercial. 503-622-1142
If you are considering getting a pet, please consider adopting a pet from your local animal shelter, or choose a responsible breeder.
NOTICE: People selling or giving animals away are advised to be selective about the new guardians. For the protection of the animal, a personal visit to the animals new home is recommended. Please remember to spay and neuter – prevent unwanted litters!
Glen A Waltman 1934–2024
The Rev. Glenn A. Waltman passed away suddenly on Thursday, August 1st, at the age of 90. He was the eldest son of Frank and Charlotte Leo Waltman and is survived by his wife of 63 years, Donna Coates Waltman and their three children, Darrell, Dean and DeeAnne and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his three younger siblings.
Born in Denver, Colorado in 1934, he and
Stephen Theodore Seifert 1955–2024
“Stevo”, long-time mountain resident, passed away in hospice after a long battle with progressive dementia due to a traumatic brain injury.
Before his accident, he enjoyed snowboarding, hiking and boating around Mt Hood, as well as riding his motorcycle: as far away as Sturgis, and as close as Brightwood Tap, just to grab some brewskis and shoot pool. He also enjoyed hosting gatherings around the bar and pool table in his own home, where everyone was welcomed and treated like family.
He grew up in Chicago and loved the pizza, Bears, Black -
his family moved to Chicago, attended grade school and then continued on to Anaheim, CA and then to Fontana, CA where he completed his schooling. Before graduating from Chaffey High School in Ontario, CA, he lettered in swimming and water polo. He was also an Eagle Scout. He came to Oregon State College intending to major in forestry but ended up earning a degree in education with an emphasis on recreation. While at Oregon State, he was the editor of the college newspaper, the Barometer.
Glenn had an insatiable desire for adventure and mountain climbing was his ambition. After graduating, he went to Iliff, the Methodist Seminary in Denver intending to be a youth pastor. There he met his future wife, Donna, who was
hawks and Cubs, but he fell in love with the mountain - so he quit his job, sold his home, packed up his family and hit the Oregon Trail.
He took x-rays and cared for injured skiers/ riders at the Mountain Clinic under Daisy Lift at Mt. Hood Meadows during the 90s, then transferred to CT/MRI at Legacy Emanuel and Mt Hood Hospitals.
His wife of 44 years, Marj, and his sons Stephen Nels and Nate, remember him as the life of the party and the light of their lives. He leaves 2 grandchildren, Viggo and Riley, to carry the torch, and loving daughters-inlaw, Ceci Bazan and Sydney Kurtz. His faithful service dog, Bella, who helped him all through his cognitive decline, just misses him terribly, especially the treats under the table. Private service. Please honor Steve’s memory with donations to Mt Hood Hospice, providing kind, loving service to both patients and their families.
Mountain Milestones
attending the University of Denver on the same campus.
Glenn and Donna were married in Milwaukee, WI, her hometown, on September 3, 1960. His first church appointment was to Pleasant Home Methodist Church in Oregon and he served churches in Oregon and Idaho and finished his ministry as a missionary to Trinidad. While serving churches, he was very active in the Conference camping program of the Methodist Church because he wanted to share God’s creation with youth and adults.
After retiring, he and Donna spent 10 years serving as volunteers with the UM Volunteers in Mission program in Chile, Uruguay and Costa Rica and the United Methodist Committee on Relief Depot in Salt Lake City.
Maureen “Mo” Musserr 1944–2024
Maureen “Mo” Musser of Happy Valley and Government Camp, Oregon died August 4, 2024 at the age of 80. She was born and raised in Portland, Oregon and was a retired professor in the School of Education at Willamette
Glenn went as a volunteer missionary to Nicaragua in 1987.
To quote his son, Darrell, “I’d say God rest his soul but I suspect he will be dragging God about the Heavens to show God the beauty that He created. Rest in peace but keep up the feverish pace, Dad. We love you”.
A celebration of life for Glenn will be held at 1:00 PM at Gresham United Methodist Church on September 28th. 620 NW 8th St. Gresham OR 97030
Memorial gifts may be made to the Camp and Retreat Ministries of the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church at 505 SW 18th Portland OR 97201 Make checks out to: Conference Treasurer
Or give online: gocamping.org/donate
Or you may give to a charity of your choice
University. Previously, she taught elementary school in Tygh Valley and Maupin and was an instructor at Portland State University.
Maureen enjoyed skiing, gardening, reading and watercolor painting. Her parents were the late Thomas and Pat Simmons.
Maureen is survived by her husband of 52 years, Lloyd Musser and daughter Katie Joy, son-in-law Cody Joy, and grandsons Wyatt and Mitchel Joy.
The family suggests contributions in her memory be made to the Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum, Government Camp, Oregon.
MOUNTAIN MILESTONES
The Mountain Times accepts obituaries, birth announcements, engagements, weddings and other announcements. Residents of the Hoodland area and non-residents with significant ties to the mountain community may submit. There is no charge, but space is limited. Please email submissions to kaity@mountaintimesoregon.com
Robert “Bob” Peters 1933–2024
Bob Peters, age 90, passed away peacefully on July 21, 2024, surrounded by family.
Bob will forever be remembered as a loving, caring father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, friend and a dependable and trustworthy former boss and business owner of Mt. Hood Dairy Queen in Sandy Oregon, which
he built, owned and operated from 1976 - 2010. His loving generosity will be remembered by all who loved and admired him.
Bob will be deeply missed by his family: Julie and Cliff Whitmore, Karren Saurman, Christy Peters and Scott Peters; sister Gail Vincent (Cary); granddaughter Chelsea Saurman; grandsons Tony Whitmore (Christine), Aaron Whitmore and Rob Saurman; great-grandson Leo Whitmore; nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and companion Pat Chambers and her family.
A Celebration of Life will be held at The Resort on the Mountain, 68010 E. Fairway Ave, Welches Or 97067 in the Trails Room (Golf Course side) on Sunday, September 8,
The Majestic Timberline Trail: A Journey Through Natural Wonder
By Robert Matsumura
The Mountain Times
If you’re looking for an iconic hike around Mount Hood, look no further than the Timberline Trail. This famous trail offers hikers a breathtaking journey through some of Oregon’s most picturesque landscapes. Ancient forests, alpine meadows and glaciated peaks await those who desire an experience brimming with natural beauty and physical challenge.
The Historical Footsteps of the Timberline Trail
While the “official” history of the Timberline Trail commences in the 1930s, in truth sections of the trail had been evolving as early as 1885, making it one of the earliest alpine trails in the Western U.S. Original settlers to the area such as the Langille family not only led recreational hikes originating from today’s Cloud Cap Inn, but also helped develop other trails in the area.. In the 1920s the Mazamas also helped spur interest in recreational hiking and encouraged the development of new trails by the U.S. Forest Service.
During the 1930s interest in outdoor recreation burgeoned in the United States, prompting the development of many of our nation’s most trea-
sured trails and national parks. The official creation of the Timberline Trail occurred at this time and was part of a larger plan for the Mt. Hood National Forest. It envisioned a network of hiking routes that would enable the public to explore the diverse landscapes around the mountain.
In the summer of 1934 the majority of the Timberline Trail was constructed at a cost of approximately $10,000 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal program that employed thousands of young men in conservation work during the Great Depression. Famous for their crucial role in constructing and maintaining trails across the nation, the CCC’s work on the Timberline Trail was an example of their commitment to preserving natural beauty while providing recreational opportunities for the public. The CCC successfully integrated many of the previous trails around the mountain into what would become today’s Timberline Trail. In addition to the trail itself, the CCC constructed alpine shelters as a place for hikers to camp and rest, providing protection from sudden storms on the mountain.
Most of the shelters were made of stone with a small fireplace and chimney. Although there were originally six of these structures, today only those at McNeil Point, Cairn Basin, and Cooper Spur survive.
Over the decades the trail has undergone various improvements and updates, adapting to address the changing needs of hikers while retaining its historic charm. A testament to both the natural splendor of the Pacific Northwest and the enduring legacy of early conservation efforts, the Timberline Trail remains one of the premier hiking trails in the Mt. Hood Wilderness.
Geological and Natural Marvels
The Timberline Trail circumnavigates Mt. Hood, the highest peak in Oregon. With year-round
snowfields and numerous glaciers shaping the landscape with dramatic ridges and valleys, the trail consists of a 40-mile loop through a diverse array of ecosystems from dense coniferous forests to subalpine meadows bursting with wildflowers during the summer months.
TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS: NATURE’S BOUNTY AND CHALLENGES
Paradise Park and Its Floral Splendor
A highlight of the Timberline Trail is Paradise Park, a pristine alpine meadow known for its vibrant wildflowers. The meadow explodes with color in mid-summer as lupines, Indian paintbrush, and avalanche lilies paint the landscape in rainbow hues against the snow capped grandeur of Mt. Hood. Hikers often pause here, struck
by the serenity and natural beauty, before continuing on along the trail.
Crossing the Sandy River and Ramona Falls
From there the trail crosses the glacial-fed Sandy River. Navigating over logs and boulders in a dramatic crossing, hikers must contend with the raw power of nature. Further on, Ramona Falls cascades gracefully over a basalt cliff, gener-
ating a captivating veil of water amidst the verdant forest backdrop. A refreshing place to stop, the falls provide a perfect opportunity and a nice respite from the toils of the trail.
The Zigzag Canyon and Timberline Lodge
As the Timberline Trail winds further, it borders the precipitous Zigzag Canyon with panoramic views of the rugged cliffs
Wildfires Are a Hot Topic at CPO Meeting
By Ty Walker
The Mountain Times
Wildfire was the main topic of discussion at the Aug. 10 hybrid meeting of the Government Camp CPO and Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum.
Hoodland Fire District Division Chief Scott Kline gave an update on several wildfires ignited by lightning storms passing
through the region Aug. 5. The Barlow Ridge Fire in Sandy reached a quarter acre before it was stopped, and a fire line was drawn around its perimeter within 24 hours. Another small wildfire, the Hunchback Trail Fire, was reported along the trail southeast of Rhododendron on Mount Hood. Kline said everything has
been 100 percent lined and firefighters are patrolling those sites.
Kline said the largest, most active fire in Clackamas County was the Sandstone Fire. According to the Clackamas County website, the fire had burned approximately 387 acres in the Clackamas River Ranger District on the south side of Thunder Mountain, approximately four miles north of Bagby Hot Springs. Multiple roads, trails and recreation sites were closed in the area.
The proximity of the wildfires to Government Camp has Community Planning Organization President Nick Rinard concerned. He said those potentially threatening fires “hit close to home.”
Rinard referred
to a statewide wildfire hazard map being drafted by the Oregon Department Of Forestry and Oregon State University. The map rates the chances that a wildfire could occur on your property.
The map shows people the hazard level for the area they live in based on weather, climate, topography and vegetation. The ODF website said while wildfire risk can be mitigated through actions at the community and property level, wildfire hazard cannot.
To view the interactive map online, go to hazardmap.forestry. oregonstate.edu/. You can zoom in to see how your property rates.
Many Government Camp properties are in the top 10 percent of
Mt. Hood Community College
hazardous properties, which are indicated by the orange areas on the map. Properties in the purple areas fall outside the top 10 percent of hazardous areas in the state.
“From a practical standpoint, in Government Camp we all have significant wildfire hazard,” Rinard said.
In other news from the CPO meeting:
- Kline also formally introduced to the community four firefighter trainees enrolled in the two-year Hoodland Fire District Student Program: Natalie Hanson, Emily Dong, Gerrit “Gus” Reasor and Vincent Burnham
TRAIL
From Page 32
and the valley nestled below. Shortly thereafter, historic Timberline Lodge welcomes hikers with its rustic charm and sweeping vistas of the alpine landscape. Since the 1930s, the lodge has served as a basecamp for many travelers along the Timberline Trail, providing both comfortable accommodations and an opportunity to experience Oregon’s rich architectural and cultural history.
Trail Logistics: Planning Your Trek
Trail Difficulty and
Seasonal Considerations
Those hiking Timberline Trail should be prepared for moderate to strenuous challenges, including steep ascents and descents, river crossings, and potential snowfields well into the summer. Hikers should gear up with sturdy footwear, ample water and provisions for weather conditions that can be unpredictable at times. For optimal conditions, hikers should aim for July to September when most of the snow has melted
and the weather is relatively mild.
Permits and Regulations
A popular hiking destination, the Timberline Trail requires a permit for overnight camping. Permits can be obtained from the local ranger station or online, with an emphasis on Leave No Trace principles designed to minimize impact on the fragile mountain ecosystem. Should you hike the Timberline Trail, plan to pack out all waste and adhere to designated camping areas in order to maintain the trail’s natural beauty for future
By MHCC
For The Mountain Times
Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) announces its recent designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAECD) by the National Security Agency (NSA). This recognition is valid through the academic year 2029.
The CAE-CD designation is awarded to institutions that meet rigorous criteria, demonstrating their ability to support the nation’s efforts in protecting the national
generations.
Discovering Oregon’s Natural Treasure
The next time you’re considering taking a hike, think of Mt. Hood’s Timberline Trail. Whether seeking adventure, solace or simply a way to reconnect with nature, the Timberline Trail will not disappoint. A testament to history, conservation and Oregon’s rugged alpine culture, the Timberline Trail still beckons to all, inviting us to explore its majestic natural trea
sures.
- Timberline Lodge representatives said they expect to finish repairing the roof damaged in the April 18 fire by Labor Day, Sept. 2. They thanked the Hoodland Fire District and Timberline staff for their quick response in limiting fire damage.
- The Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum Board said the museum is still looking to hire a new executive director. For details, see employment opportunities online at mthoodmuseum.org/ employment-opportunities/.
- Clackamas County has received $850,000 to build a restroom and start planning and site development for a future park and ride public transit hub in Government Camp, according to Teresa Christopherson of Clackamas County Social Services.
Designated as National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense
Information infrastructure (NII).
This achievement underscores MHCC’s role in addressing the critical shortage of cybersecurity professionals, as outlined in the National Cyber Strategy.
“This designation reaffirms the hard work of our cybersecurity faculty, our commitment to academic excellence, and our role in building a highly skilled cybersecurity workforce that is essential for national security,” MHCC President Dr. Lisa Skari said.
The NSA’s recognition emphasizes the
importance of higher education in developing a robust cybersecurity talent pipeline. The National Cyber Strategy, published in September 2018, highlights the strategic advantage of a highly skilled cybersecurity workforce and the necessity of continued investment in education programs that promote these ideals.
MHCC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in cybersecurity program formally launches this fall. The program is the only one of its kind in the state to be offered at a community college.
Mt. Hood Lions Club: Mountain Roar
By Lion, Milt Fox
For The Mountain Times
MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC!
Thanks to those of you who attended our “femforward” mobile health clinicon Friday July 26th. The folks with “femforward” are planning to bring their mobile clinic to the Lions Club the last Friday of every month depending on community need and turn out. They can serve
up to 14 patients in a day. Appointments can be made through their website, by texting or calling. Their next visit will be on Friday August 30th at the Lions Club. Watch for our advertising.
HOOD TO COAST DRIVETHRU BURRITO BREAKFAST!
Thanks for attending our drive-thru Burrito Breakfast on Friday morning August 23rd.
We had a nice turnout of Hood to Coast runners and their support groups. As always, locals also attended the breakfast, but most not in the early hours. Thanks to Craig Calvert and his crew of early rising Lions.
Coming up!
WELCHES CHARITY
OPEN GOLF
TOURNAMENT
DINNER FRIDAY
SEPTEMBER 6TH
We’re having one of our famous steak dinners to kick-off the Welches Charity Open Golf Tournament. This dinner is also available to the public, so come out and enjoy a great meal. Friday evening September 6th, happy hour starts at 5:00pm with dinner at 6:00pm. Price is $25 dollars. Bingo following dinner for entertainment. Come out – you’ll have a nice time.
WELCHES CHARITY
OPEN GOLF
TOURNAMENT
SATURDAY
SEPTEMBER 7TH!
We will be having a golf tournament in association with the Oregon Resort at the Mountain to benefit our community disaster relief fund. The cost is $100 per person for the tournament. The tournament will be a shotgun start scramble. Food and drink will be available throughout the course. Please contact Lion President Dave Anderson at 971-373-3869 if you would like to register or if you would like to be a sponsor. 8:30am check in and start time will be at 10am.
BINGO!
This year’s fall Bingo season will start on Friday September 27th, and last through Friday November 29th, closing for the holidays. Doors open at 6:00pm with Bingo starting at 7:00pm. Bingo is our club’s largest fundraiser and helps support our scholarship program. Our Bingo Chairperson
is Lion Carol Norgard. WHAT ELSE ARE WE WORKING ON!
Red Cross Blood Drives Saturday October 19th and Saturday December 14th
Reading is Fundamental (RIF) Dinner Saturday October 26th.
Christmas Toy Drive Dinner: Saturday December 7th.
More on these and other events in columns to come.
Our President Lion David Anderson reminds us that busy hands are happy hands.
A little about us:
What’s The Mt. Hood Lions Club?
Occasionally people ask me what the Mt. Hood Lions Club is all about. I always tell them that we are a Service Club that tries to serve some of our community’s many needs.
Our club is a member of Lions International, an organization of
over 46,000 Service Clubs in 200 plus countries, with over 1.4 million members throughout the world. The Association of Lions Clubs was established in 1917 in Chicago, by businessman Melvin Jones. The Association became International in 1920. The Lions Motto is “We Serve.”
The Lions Club of Mt. Hood: that’s our actual name, but we are always called the “Mt. Hood Lions Club.” The club was chartered May 11th, 1951, with 38 charter members. Our club is noted for its many projects and fundraisers. As Lions we are never to extend our hand and ask for a donation of money. We are very proud to earn our funding through our hard work and the very generous support of our community. I’m told that presently our club has 117 members. We’re the largest Lions Club in Oregon. It’s great to be a Lion!
Local Quilters Star in Hoodland Quilt Show
By Ty Walker The Mountain Times
Local quilters are stitching together the final pieces for the second annual Hoodland Piecemakers Quilt Show & Craft Sale. Admission to the 2024 show and sale will be free and open to the public 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Hoodland Lutheran Church in Sandy. The event is a fundraiser for Neighborhood Missions, the local food
pantry and nonprofit social assistance agency on the mountain. Last year’s inaugural event was such a success, with nearly $2,500 raised, that the Piecemakers’ big show is returning for a second year.
“I like to be able to contribute to the community to support Neighborhood Missions,” piecemaker and longtime Mt. Hood resident Judy Edelman said. “We feel like we had a good turnout last year.”
The show will include about 50 quilts. with only a few of them available for purchase. The sale part of the program is intended mainly for crafts, of which all kinds will be for sale, including table runners, baby blankets, wall hangings, knitted items and more.
Neighborhood Missions facilitator Steve Carlson gave last year’s show a rave review. He expected to see more of the Piecemakers’ beautiful quiltwork and crafts-
manship on display again this year.
“They are beautiful quilts,” Carlson said. “These people are practically professional quilters. The quilts last year were just breathtaking. The crafts they will sell are also as beautifully made as the quilts. All kinds of crafts that you can imagine are available.”
Edelman moved to Mount Hood in 2005 and started quilting with the Hoodland Piecemakers about 20 years ago. She is one of about 20-25 quilters in the group.
“We’re just a bunch of gals who get together Thursday night at Hoodland Lutheran Church,” Edelman said.
Hoodland Lutheran
Church is located at 59151 U.S. Highway 26, in Sandy. The Piecemakers and their quilt show are not programs or missions of the church. They just use the building as their weekly meeting and event space.
Neighborhood Missions is a community outreach mission of Hoodland Lutheran Church and a partner with Oregon Food Bank, offering a free food market on the last Monday of every month at the church. The local Neighborhood Missions has 20 to 30 volunteers. For more information go online to www.hoodlandlc.org or phone
Firefighters First Campers in Reopened Clackamas River Campgrounds
In September 2020, the Riverside Fire started near the Riverside Campground, burning 138,054 acres in the Clackamas River Corridor. Eleven campgrounds along the Clackamas River were heavily damaged, as were employee housing, office and warehouse buildings, trailheads, toilets
and water systems, and hundreds of miles of impacted roads. This summer marked another milestone in the long process of fire recovery. In cooperation with the National Forest Foundation, a local contractor, and local non-profit AntFarm, Mt. Hood National Forest
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employees have been working to repair the damage from the Riverside Fire. While there is still work to be done, progress has been made reopening campgrounds and day use sites. Two campgrounds that have had most of the work completed in them are Ripplebrook and Rain-
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bow Campgrounds. Work included removing dead and dying hazard trees, clearing brush, installing new toilets, replacing picnic tables and fire rings, realigning and repairing the campsite pull-ins, and improving access to the adjacent Riverside Trail. Opening dates for these two campgrounds was set for August.
Campground opening plans changed when the Sandstone Fire started on August 5, 2024. The fire is 9 miles southwest of Ripplebrook, and the Forest’s leadership knew help would be needed to ensure the fire was stopped before it might endanger local communities.
Firefighters from across the nation have arrived to contain the Sandstone Fire, and they needed a place to camp is both close to the fireline and safe from danger. The Ripplebrook and Rainbow Campgrounds fit the bill perfectly.
As a result, the opening dates of the Rainbow and Ripplebrook Campgrounds have been postponed to allow firefighters to use them.
Camping at the Ripplebrook and Rainbow Campgrounds allows firefighters to be close enough to respond quickly to any changes in the fire, but also be far enough away from it so they can relax and sleep after working shifts that last 14 to 16 hours. These campgrounds have become firefighters home
away from home while they are working on the Sandstone Fire, so if you are visiting the Ripplebrook area, please avoid the campgrounds to allow the firefighters privacy. Once the Sandstone Fire is contained, the Forest looks forward to welcoming campers back to these scenic sites.
For more information about the fire recovery on Mt. Hood, visit: https:// www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ mthood/firerecovery
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