The Gorge Business News Sept/Oct 2019

THE GORGE BUSINESS NEWS Business, Art, Culture, Outdoors, Travel & Entertainment

Connecting Communities Throughout the Columbia River Gorge

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Thunder Isl a nd Brewi n g Breaks Ground On New Bui l d i n g Volume 3 - Issue 4

FREE Serving Oregon and Washington

SEPT/OCT 2019

By Rick Roach

T

hunder Island Brewing Co. owners Dave and Caroline Lipps celebrated at a ground-breaking ceremony on August 20, 2019 at 601 Wa Na Pa street, Cascade Locks, Oregon. Thunder Island Brewing Co. has been successfully brewing and serving craft beer at their current location at 515 Portage Road in the Port of Cascade Locks, Oregon since October 2013. Dave said, “It’s been a long, long road to get to this point and this is going to be great, not only for our business and our staff, but also for the community of Cascade Locks”. The 10,000 sq ft purpose-built 15-barrel brewing facility and restaurant will be completed in 2020.

Contributing to the success of the business, the Port provided incubator space in a building near the river across from Thunder Island since the business opened in 2013. The Port structured a gradually increasing monthly lease rate so that the brewery could invest capital into equipment while building the business. Since the brewery began serving customers it has grown from a small two-barrel brewing system to a seven-barrel system. The business was so successful that it needed a bigger facility, so to continue supporting the brewery and provide an even greater economic stimulus to the area, the Port sold the property in Cascade Locks to Thunder Island.

Regarding the successful collaboration, Olga Kaganova, Director of the Port of Cascade Locks, said “We are excited about this home-grown addition to our downtown area. The Port is thrilled to have been a part of the exponential growth and success of this small business. We look forward

Caroline and Dave Lipps, proud owners of Thunder Island Brewing Co. breaking ground for a new 10,000 sq. ft. brewery and restaurant at 601 Wa Na Pa street in Cascade Locks, Oregon (left: photo by Rick Roach).

Sample draw of beer ready to be heated for testing and quality control (right: photo by Lori Roach).

to utilizing the incubator space to bring in more business activity to Cascade Locks and are discussing this with other potential businesses.”

According to Brittany Sheets, Sales and Marketing Coordinator at Thunder Island, the new building and location will offer the following improvements; a new advanced

brewing system which will allow the brewers to increase output and make better beer, a full-size state of the art kitchen to offer an expanded menu and improve efficiency, a better view of the river including a view of the Bridge of the Gods,

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Logtoberfest Celebrates the Culture of Skamania County S

kamania County, Washington has a rich logging history and the status of being a Sasquatch refuge. In celebration of these things the Wind River Business Association has joined with several local businesses to create Logtoberfest, an event that has become a fall tradition.

Logtoberfest takes place Saturday, October 5, 2019 at Gorge-ous Weddings located at Wind Mountain Ranch in Home Valley, Washington from 12:00 pm until 6:00 pm with free admission for all ages. Experience chain saw art demonstrations as well as blacksmithing and vintage logging equipment demonstrations, Sasquatch vendors, arts and crafts vendors, food and more. Kids will enjoy games, crafts, face painting, balloon animals and other fun activities.

The Big River Blues Band will take the stage to kick off the event on a high note followed by Britnee Kellogg’s band who will rock the house with country music.

Local craft breweries including Backwoods Brewing, Walking Man, Thunder Island, will be featured in the beer garden along with

wine from Flume Vineyard, Jester and Judge cider and whiskey by Skunk Brother Spirits. Entrance to the beer garden is $10 and includes one beverage ticket plus a commemorative Mason jar that will serve as your glass.

Additional tickets can be purchased at $5.00 each. Come dressed in a dirty hickory shirt and cork boots to enter the “dress like a logger contest” for a chance to win cool prizes!

Looking to spend the night?

Grab a cabin right at the venue by calling Wind Mountain Ranch at 503-3604707. For more events details, please find us on Facebook or call the Skamania County Chamber of Commerce at 800-989-9178.

The Skamania County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to organize this event along with members of the Wind River Business Association.

For more information on lodging, dining and recreational opportunities in Skamania County and the Columbia River Gorge, visit www.skamania. org.

Directions to Wind Mountain Ranch: From Portland, head east on I-84 to exit number 44 (Cascade Locks). Travel across the Bridge of the Gods ($2.00 per car toll) and turn right on Highway 14, heading east. Drive approximately seven miles east into the community of Home Valley. Look for Wind Mountain Road east of the Home Valley Store and turn left. Erickson Road is the second left as you head up the hill. Wind Mountain Ranch is on your right, follow the signs for parking. The address is 192 Erickson Road, Home Valley, WA 98648.

Our View

Thank you for continuing to read and

support The Gorge Business News. Lori and I truly love meeting the wonderful people in the Gorge and hearing your stories, some about business, some about activities and events, and some are just about everyday life. We are all connected in one way or another, whether we realize it or not. Now, on to review our stories for this issue!

We have been very busy the last couple of months and weren’t able to get everything in the paper we wanted to, but it has been a fun summer. We try to balance the coverage and include happenings on both sides of the river but there is always so much going on in the Gorge and unfortunately we only have so much space... and time...and energy.

Groundbreaking for Thunder Island Brewing Co.’s new 10,000 sq ft purpose-built brewery and restaurant illustrated the success that can be achieved when small businesses and municipalities work together for the common good of the Gorge. Kudos to the Port of Cascade Locks for being an economic driver in the Gorge. I also attended a “Coffee with the Commissioners” session at the Port of Camas Washougal and learned of their importance to the Gorge. They not only own and operate the marina but also own and operate Grove Airport and have a massive waterfront revitalization project underway, recently completing the $1.7M grant funded Washougal waterfront trail and family park.

Visiting Cedar Creek Alpacas gave me a glimpse of a unique business that offers a fun

The Gorge Business News

experience for kids and families and hand-made Alpaca wool garments are available in the boutique on the grounds. It also serves as an activity center for children as far away as China. Learning about Camp Beyond, an organization that arranges activities in the U.S. for Chinese students, while at Cedar Creek brought back memories of sponsoring cultural exchange trips to China when I worked in higher education.

The importance of the Gorge as a recreation venue for millions of people each year was evident in the opening of a new section of the Columbia River Historic Highway and Trails System near Wyeth Trailhead. I also learned of the need to resolve the increasing traffic congestion through mass-transportation solutions for visitors from the nearby metropolitan area.

Skyline Hospital’s recent acquisition of new cutting-edge, world-class mammography equipment is an enormous step in providing excellent health care and early detection of breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The Kiteboard 4 Cancer event was held at Hood River July 12-14 for the thirteenth year and is a unique approach to helping cancer survivors establish community with camaraderie through activities and experiences with fellow cancer survivors.

The AMA National Motocross Championship races at Washougal MX park was one of my favorite events this year. It brought back memories of riding dirt bikes through the trails of Oregon during my youth and the bonding experience it was to ride with my dad and brothers.

Upcoming events such as Logtoberfest and the American Red Cross Get Ready events promise to be fun and educational as we head into fall. The Hood River Hops Fest will be another fun Gorge event for beer aficionados, of which there are multitudes in the PNW, and an economic boost to the area. And while Pendleton is not in the Gorge the Pendleton Round-Up is an important traditional event for the state of Oregon and will be teaming up with Farmers Ending Hunger again this year to raise money to provide food to hungry families in Oregon.

Volume 3 - Issue 4 July/August 2019 Publisher Studio 6 Designworks, LLC Digital Versions available at www.issuu.com/thegorgebusinessnews Serving Bingen, Camas, Cascade Locks Hood River, Lyle, Mosier, North Bonneville Skamania, Stevenson The Dalles, Troutdale, Washougal, White Salmon www.facebook.com/thegorgebusinessnews www.instagram.com/thegorgebusinessnews

www.thegorgebusinessnews.com The Gorge Business News is published by Studio 6 Designworks, LLC A Creative Publishing, Marketing, and Consulting Company Owned and operated by Rick Roach ~ 360-524-3780 Lori Roach ~ 541-910-7482 Advertising Specialist Angela Rogers 541-604-5765 advertising.gorgebusinessnews@gmail.com

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The Business of Brewing Thunder Island Brewing

Continued from Page 1

space for a future rooftop bar and more seating space to accommodate guests and groups for events.

Brewer Kyle Larson explained that the new brewing equipment will enable brewers to measure components and chemicals during production more quickly and accurately, which will result in improved quality control and better beer. For instance, diacetyls, which are a normal byproduct of the fermentation process, can cause an off flavor if the beer is packaged too soon. The manual process for detecting diacetyls is done by heating a sample of beer, then cooling it, then tasting it to see if it has a buttery flavor. The new brewing system will contain instrumentation that can accurately detect diacetyl without having to go through this manual, time-consuming, process. Also, increasing the brewing system to 15 barrels will increase production capacity and allow for more experimentation and a greater variety of beers.

When asked about possible differThunder Island’s current 7-barrel brewing system (middle), ences in a brewer’s own Amber Arnold, beertender (right) at Thunder Island Brewing Co. personal preference and the current market showing off some cool new merchandise and Jack “Trashalope” a PCT Hiker stopping in for a ‘Trail Magic’ beer. for certain types of beer, Larsen said “we like to make beer that we like to drink”. It seems like a good philosophy to live by considering Thunder Island’s success in an ever-growing and highly competitive craft beer market.

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month Skyline Hospital Offers Genius™ 3D Mammography Exams

By Lori Roach

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ctober is breast cancer awareness month and Skyline Hospital is determined to offer women the support, resources and technology to fight this all too common disease.

One in eight women living in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime and three out of four of those diagnosed with breast cancer have no known risk factors. Twenty-five percent of women who die from breast cancer are diagnosed in their forties, but if cancer is detected before it has spread, the chance for a cure is nearly 100%.

“We like to use this time of year and breast cancer awareness month to focus on breast cancer prevention and to shine a light on how important being healthy is,” said Erica Didier, M.D. “We like to focus on true prevention, not just early detection.”

Healthy lifestyle choices are the first step in the quest to avoid a breast cancer diagnosis.

“Breast health, like all health, doesn’t begin in the hospital or clinic. Preventing breast cancer is not totally under our control, but we can care for ourselves by making decisions each day to strengthen our relationships with others and ourselves making time to move our bodies and to fuel them with whole, nutritious foods,” said Didier.

According to the Mayo Clinic there are steps to take that will reduce the risk of getting, not only breast cancer, but other cancers as well. Those steps include limiting alcohol, not smoking, controlling your weight, being physically active, breast-feeding, limiting dose and duration of hormone therapy and avoiding exposure to radiation and environmental pollution.

“I use a shared decision-making process with my patients. I talk to them about what the risks are and let them choose their course of action.

Patients like being empowered to make decisions on

their own,” said Jenna Newcomb, PA-C. “I can help them reach their goals, while helping them to reduce their risk for cancer. They are not alone on their journey; we are here to help them.”

A large part of healthy decision making is scheduling yourself routine mammograms. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Radiology Society of Breasts Imaging, the American Medical Association, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggest women should have their first mammogram by age 40, and then, depending on the organization, have a routine mammogram every year or every two years.

Skyline Hospital offers Genius™ 3D Mammography exams, developed by Hologic, Inc., a worldwide leader in Women’s Health. Utilizing advanced breast tomosynthesis technology, Genius™ exams are clinically proven to significantly increase the detection of breast cancers, also decreasing the number of women asked to return for additional testing.

In conventional 2D mammography, overlapping tissue is a leading reason why small breast cancers may be missed and normal tissue may appear abnormal, leading to unnecessary callbacks.

These exams include a three-dimensional method of imaging that can greatly reduce the tissue overlap effect.

“3D mammography provides more detailed images of the breast tissue, viewed in thin ‘slices’ instead of a single picture of superimposed tissue.

This means radiologists can find cancers earlier, when they are more treatable,” said Kari Thomas, M.D., Skyline Hospital radiologist. “This technology also reduces the number of callbacks from screening mammograms, as it helps radiologists to discern overlapping normal tissue from masses.”

This new exam technology is revolution-

Erica Didier, M.D. Family Medicine Physician

Jenna Newcomb Physician Assistant Family Medicine & Emergency Medicine

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Healthy Lifestyle Choices are Key to Prevention izing how breast cancer is detected by providing a better option for women of all breast densities compared to 2D alone.

Researchers have found that: • 3D mammography finds 20-65 percent more invasive breast cancers compared to 2D alone, an average increase of 41 percent.

• Only the Genius™ 3D Mammography exam is FDA approved as superior for women with dense breasts compared to 2D alone.

• 3D Mammography reduces callbacks by up to 40 percent compared to 2D alone.

“Because of the generosity of Skyline Foundation

and our giving community, the Imaging Department at Skyline Hospital is able to replace our digital mammography system with a new state-of-the art 3D tomosynthesis unit,” said Robb Kimmes, Skyline Hospital chief executive officer. “Having the best tools for early detection of breast cancer is going to be very impactful to this community and for this I am incredibly grateful!”

To schedule a 3D mammography exam, or to learn about this important breast health procedure, please contact Skyline Hospital’s Imaging Department at 509-637-2957.

Mammogram Technicians Renee Bourgea and Jill Weible stand beside the Genius 3D Mammography Machine.

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• Accepting private insurances, Medicaid and Medicare • Preferred provider for most Washington and Oregon insurances • Offering discounted pricing for uninsured patients

Call now to schedule an appointment, call 509-637-2810. www.skylinehospital.com

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MEDICAL CLINIC Serving Gorge Communities

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Art

City of Washougal Seeking Applications for Newly Established Washougal Arts Commission The City of Washougal is now seeking

applications for positions on the Washougal Arts Commission. The commission was established at the May 29, 2018 city council meeting to identify and actively encourage the development and sustainability of arts in the city. The application period will run through October 21, 2019 with the selection process concluding by December 3, 2019. The first commission meeting is expected to take place in January 2020.

Initial funding for the arts commission in the amount of $5,000 was appropriated by the City Council in 2019. Additional funding for programs and expenses will come from grants, donations and admission charges.

“Public art does something that invigorates public spaces and makes us proud of the unique qualities that make the Washougal community our home. The best of public art can challenge, delight, and educate us, but most of all, it creates a sense of civic vitality that enriches our lives,” said Mayor Molly Coston.

While the positions on the commission are open to anyone, the goal is to have at least one

member from a local or regional arts organization, one youth member and one member that has held a position as an arts educator. The city also seeks representation from individuals with arts experience and professions as well as those who have an interest in the artistic and cultural development of the city.

Duties of Washougal arts commissioners will include: • Advise city council on issues relating to artwork, artistic endeavors and opportunities in the city • Develop public art policies for acquisition, display and presentation • Identify projects that could benefit from artists’ involvement • Select artists • Act as a representative/ voice of the community in matters of public art • Develop collaborations and connections with Washougal schools and local, regional and national arts organizations • Inform public about art and culture in the city The Washougal Arts Commission will be composed of no fewer than five and no more than nine members who will be appointed by the mayor with

approval from the city council. At least a majority of the members must be residents within the city.

Commission members will serve three year terms and all positions are unpaid. The commission will meet quarterly with all meetings open to the public. Representing the city, Parks and Cemetery Program Manager Suzanne Grover will facilitate meetings and Michelle Wagner will take on the role of council liaison.

“The Washougal Arts Commission will be a forum for residents to express and share their visions, values and passion about our community,” stated Mayor Coston. “I am so pleased that we, in the city of Washougal, will be able to offer yet another opportunity for our citizens to become involved in a way that will build a lasting legacy for generations to follow.”

Application materials are available at Washougal City Hall (1701 C Street) or online at https://cityofwashougal.us/arts. Interested individuals should submit all application materials by October 21, 2019 to City Hall. Interviews will take place the week of November 18, 2019 and applicants selected for positions will be notified by the week of December 3, 2019.

Find out more about the duties and responsibilities of the Washougal Arts Commission and information about other opportunities to serve on Washougal boards and commissions, please visit https://www.cityofwashougal.us/bc.

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Like a Phoenix Rising From the Ashes

Gorge-ous Weddings at Wind Mountain Ranch Where Relaxation Meets Adventure

By Lori Roach

W

ind Mountain Ranch is home to Gorge-ous Weddings, a private estate venue that must be experienced to fully appreciate the location and the beauty that surrounds it.

Although its physical location is in Washington, craggy Oregon hills of the Columbia Gorge are close enough you feel like you can walk right to them if it weren’t for the beautiful and mighty Columbia River rolling by that separates the two land masses.

Wind Mountain towers above the 68-acre property, making for one of three backdrops for the many weddings that are performed here each year. The Columbia River itself is the second backdrop and the deck alongside the pond with those craggy Oregon hills create the third picturesque wedding ceremony option at this unique venue.

“I grew up on this property and I wanted to have a ‘back home’ wedding, so eleven years ago I had my own wedding here. Afterwards my dad asked, ‘what are we going to do? What do you want to do with this property’, and I said, ‘Let’s do weddings’, so that is what we’ve done, said owner Molly Gunn.

In addition to the amazing views, the venue also offers everything you need for a wedding, a family reunion, a business retreat, or reception. A large reception tent with seating for 300 is available June through October, with tables, chairs and linens included. Sunshades, chandeliers, catering space, a dance floor, indoor restrooms are just a sample of the amenities available at Wind Mountain Ranch. Bartenders are provided by Backwoods Brewing of Carson, WA. Last summer Molly was dealt a devastating blow when she awoke to the Ranch House on fire.

The Ranch House, which was owned

by Augie and Nelta Paasch and built in 1948, was an integral part of Gorge-ous Weddings. Not only did she have an emotional attachment to the building as being a huge piece of her childhood, she had clients who were expecting to incorporate it into their wedding day.

Like a phoenix raising from the ashes, cabins were quickly built and although the Ranch House is gone, and the emotional attachment is still there, the venue that is Wind Mountain Ranch and Gorge-ous Weddings is still taking care of their

guests and giving them a place to create lasting memories of their own.

Some of the comments on reviews on social media include: ‘Everyone at Wind Mountain Ranch was a delight to work with’, ‘The owner/operators are great-organized, clear, specific and professional’, ‘working with vendors in the surrounding communities was great and affordable’, ‘beautiful setting with amazing energy’, ‘the setting is spectacular’, ‘Molly is amazing to work with’.

“I love what I do,” said Molly, “because I have the pleasure of meeting couples who are about to start a beautiful life together as well as meeting wonderful families who are visiting the cabins.”

The seven luxury cabins sleep up to 35 people and are tucked in next to the towering pine trees that line the edge of the venue’s open space.

One of the cabins is a bridal suite and all seven cabins are included in the 2020 wedding packages. They come complete with bathrooms with showers and towels, kitchenettes with dishes, microwaves, coffee pots, mini fridges, cable tv, a ceiling fan, air conditioning, a bar-b-que grill, board games and the opportunity to explore the beautiful Pacific Northwest right outside the front door. The cabins are available for rent yearround.

“I have had the opportunity to be part of so many special events, my life has changed in a way that I am able to have a family business as well as raise my kids in the Columbia River Gorge. I feel blessed to have both,” said Gunn.

Wind Mountain Ranch and Gorge-ous Wedding venue is located at 192 Erickson Road in Stevenson, Washington in the always stunning Columbia River Gorge and is only about an hour east of Portland.

Find out more at www.windmountainranch.com and www.gorge. ousweddings.com. Be sure to ‘Like’ their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/gorgeousweddings as well as www.faccebook.com/windmountainranch and follow them on Instagram @gorge.ousweddings and @windmountainranch.

For more information e-mail info@gorge-ousweddings.com or call 503-360-4707.

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Agriculture

Farmers Are Stepping Up to End Hunger

By Lori Roach

A

ccording to the Oregon Food Bank’s Snapshot of Hunger, 526,640 Oregonians are food insecure, which means they lack access to good, healthy food, and/ or don’t have enough food for an active healthy lifestyle. The number jumps to 582,620 when you include Clark County, Washington, which is also served by Oregon Food Banks.

These numbers amount to one in eight individuals who are food insecure. Oregon ranks 20th in the nation for food insecurity, 16th in the country for child food insecurity.

Thankfully there are people in Oregon making a difference. John Burt, Executive Director of Farmers Ending Hunger is one of those people.

“Farmers Ending Hunger has given me the opportunity to do what I was intended to do with my life and helping to feed hungry Oregonians,” said Burt.

“My work at the Oregon State University extension service for the past 33 years prepared me for this important role with Farmers Ending Hunger.”

“Farmers Ending Hunger started in 2006 with a donation of 173,000 pounds of peas and we now generate 3.5-4 million pounds annually of fresh vegetables, potatoes, onions, wheat, cherries and hazelnuts. We’re still doing our part to bring fresh, locally grown food to the Oregon Food Bank, but hunger statistics in Oregon and across the US have improved.

Rural areas are still seeing a huge need, and childhood hunger is still a very big issue,” said Burt.

This year the Pendleton Round-Up is once again partnering with Farmers Ending Hunger, which works with local farmers to produce food for those who need it most. The Pendleton Round-Up has adopted twenty acres of farmland in their fight against hunger.

The money raised by adopting acres is used for transportation, food processing and packaging costs. What’s more, the Pendleton Round-Up, with the assistance of

NW Farm Credit Services and River Point Farms, will match up to $5,000 donated by attendees and fans at this year’s Round-Up. There will also be a dedicated social media campaign to support this initiative; follow the Pendleton RoundUp on Facebook for more.

“The issue of hunger is one that hits close to home for the Pendleton RoundUp and members of our community,” said Bill Levy, president, Pendleton Round-Up. “Farmers Ending Hunger is fighting back against this growing issue in our state, and we are proud to support and invest in this great cause to better the City of Pendleton, surrounding region and great state of Oregon.”

Since about 65-70% of our fresh crop donations come from Eastern Oregon farmers and ranchers, being part of the Pend-

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leton Round-Up is very important.

The Round-Up works to promote the importance of agriculture in the region and we have the opportunity to thank our donors and grow awareness of our statewide program.

Farmers Ending Hunger Day at the 2019 Pendleton RoundUp will feature interactive exhibits, experts onsite to discuss solutions to the food crisis in Oregon and opportunities for rodeo attendees to help contribute to fighting hunger through donations and action.

“As long as there is hunger and the Oregon Food Bank needs our donations, we will work to meet

our goals and help as much as we can. Currently, we only operate in Oregon, but we have recently made some connections that could lead to expansion into Washington,” said Burt.

Tickets for the Wednesday, September 11 rodeo performance start at $15; packages are still available for families. To order tickets for the 2019 Pendleton Round-Up visit http://www.pendletonroundup.com/ or call (541) 276- 2553.

To learn more about Farmers Ending Hunger, or to donate, visit www.farmersendinghunger.com.

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American Red Cross

Get Ready for Get Ready Events Being Held in Camas and The Dalles Camas.

American Red Cross and NW Natural invite you to free emergency preparedness events

For the eighth year in a row, NW Nat-

ural and the American Red Cross will host “Get Ready” events around the state to help you prepare for natural disasters.

Get Ready is free and open to everyone.

This year’s events will be held during August and September across NW Natural’s territory in Salem, Cottage Grove, Oregon City, Astoria, The Dalles, Forest Grove, Newport, Coos Bay and

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“Each year, we partner with the American Red Cross, local fire departments, and other public agencies and organizations to provide this vital emergency information to our customers and the public,” said Melissa Moore, NW Natural public information officer. “It’s important during National Preparedness month in September that we all take stock of how well we’re prepared for an earthquake or other natural disasters.”

The first 100 attendees at each Get Ready event will receive a starter emergency kit, and there will also be the chance to enter a drawing to win a family emergency preparedness kit.

Additionally, information and giveaways will be

distributed by various agencies at the events. At most locations, free lunch will be offered.

Get Ready is scheduled in the following locations, dates and times: GET READY THE DALLES September 14, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue, The Dalles, OR GET READY CAMAS September 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Parker Street Fire Station, Camas, WA Other locations available as well.

For more information, please visit redcross.org/Cascades or find us on Facebook at RedCrossCascades, Twitter at @RedCrossCasc and find us on Instagram at @RedCrossCascades.

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Fall is in the Air at Fall Festival of the Arts Troutdale’s Festival of the Arts to be Held at Glenn Otto Park

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he Troutdale Fall Festival of the Arts will be held on September 21st and 22nd. Saturday’s event will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday’s event will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The festival will be held in Troutdale, Oregon at Glenn Otto Park at 1102 E. Historic Columbia River Highway.

Q: Why does the West Columbia Gorge Chamber host this Arts Festival in Troutdale?

A: Our Mission is ‘to connect, support, and present the thriving community of artists, studios, workshops, and galleries in our region, and to build awareness of the West Columbia Gorge as a Fine Art destination.”

There’s a lot of ground to cover in our Chamber’s area - Fairview to Cascade Locks. Troutdale is where our office and Visitor Center is, and already has a great Arts reputation thanks to folks like the Caswells, and so many others. One of our goals is to engage

Association’s “Memories in the more communities and groups to Making” Gala Auctions. take part (or make new parts) and Many of us have been touched expand The Festival in the future. This is only our 5th year by dementia or Alzheimers, and while it is hard to adjust and cope of what we hope will be a long with the changing reality, support standing tradition in our region. is available, and access to art & Q: What can people expect at Fall Festival of the Arts? music programs are so beneficial to A: A gorgeous everyone involved.

September natural setting for Two It seemed like a 21st and 22nd days of juried Artists’ perfect fit.

Saturday 10am-6pm booths, a Silent Auction, Q: How did you Sunday 10am-4pm 6 Pacific NW Authors, choose Donna ErTroutdale Oregon, at win as Artist of the live music Glenn Otto Park (1102 Year? & Demonstrations throughout the weekend, E. Historic Columbia A: Donna owns & River Hwy) great food and snacks, operates the Columlocal wine & craft beer, bia River Gallery in the culmination of the Troutdale Troutdale (303 E.Historic ColumCommunity Art Trout Project, and bia River Hwy.) She is best known kids are welcome - there’s a playfor her stellar work in framing ground & Kids Art Zone!

- hand carving designs into the Q: This is also a mats, using materials in unique fund-raiser, correct? Who is that ways. She has been the winner of for this year? many competition framing awards, A: This year a portion of including at the international level. our proceeds will benefit the AlzDonna’s talents & support of the heimer’s Association. Our Artist arts are wide-ranging. She coordiof the Year Donna Erwin has done nates & participates in Troutdale’s incredible framing of work by First Friday Art Walks throughout people with Alzheimer’s for the the year, and has been a tireless

volunteer for this event and many others during her 21+ years in business. Her design skills elevate her art to a level of importance and recognition that is well deserved, and we are so thrilled to have her as our 2019 Artist of the Year!

Q: Any additional thoughts to share?

A: We’re incredibly thankful to each of our Sponsors, and our amazing Volunteers.

We plan this FREE ADMISSION event all year, and couldn’t do any of this without their support.

Contact amy@westcolumbiagorgechamber.com to participate! This is a great way to get involved in the community, meet new people, network with Artists and business owners, and to see personally why you should apply or sponsor next year!

Q: Where can I get more information?

A: www.FallFestivalOfTheArts.com Like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram: fall_arts_festival, or call Amy: 503-739-2463.

Glenn Otto Park 1102 East Historic Columbia River Highway Troutdale Oregon

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Page 10

Beer

The Gorge Business News

Hood River Hops Fest Returns on September 21 More than 40 Pacific Northwest breweries will gather in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge for the annual event, which offers one of the largest fresh-hop beer selections in the country

O

n Saturday, September 21, downtown Hood River, Oregon, will again be “hopping” with the return of one of the Columbia Gorge’s premier events, Hood River Hops Fest, produced by the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce and presented by Jacobs. This one-day festival, now in its 16th year, brings together more than 40 Pacific Northwest breweries to debut their seasonal fresh-hop beers.

With over 60 unique varieties available for tasting, the Hood River Hops Fest boasts one of the largest fresh-hop selections in the nation. The 2019 brewery line-up will be announced at the beginning of September on the Hood River Hops Fest website.

Numerous Hood River breweries, including pFriem Family Brewers, Double Mountain Brewery, Full Sail Brewing and Ferment Brewing Co. are participating in the festival and showcasing their 2019 fresh-hop ales, alongside other regional heavyweights.

A small selection of local ciders will also be on tap, along with select wines from Naked Winery.

The Sodbuster Farms’ Lupulus Award – an interactive judging experience for festival attendees – is back for a third year. The 2018 people’s choice award went to Breakside Brewery’s Fresh Hop Wanderlust beer.

“The Pacific Northwest is known for its fresh-hop beers, and Hood River Hops Fest is the perfect place for local and regional

brewers to showcase their innovative, world-class fresh-hop beers,” said Kate Schroeder, Executive Director of the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce, host of the event.

“Festival-goers can make a weekend of it, exploring everything else that makes our area so special, including great places to stay, wonderful places to eat and drink, hiking, biking, a downtown art walk and historic downtown shopping area, and the beautiful Hood River County Fruit Loop, where you can go apple picking, cider tasting and more, all with awesome Mount Hood views!”

Hood River Hops Fest features local cuisine, arts and crafts vendors, and live music. Children are welcome throughout the afternoon. The venue is open to adults only from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

2019 Hood River Hops Fest Details

Includes entry, commemorative glass mug and five 3.5oz. taste tokens • Under 21: Free admission. Note: The venue is open to people 21 and older only from 5 p.m. until closing at 8 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at hoodriver.org/hops-fest, or at the entrance the day of the event.

MORE INFORMATION Call the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce at (541) 386-2000 or visit the official Hood River Hops Fest website and Facebook page.

WHEN Saturday, September 21, 2019. Open to all ages from 12-5 p.m., and adults ages 21 and over from 5-8 p.m.

WHERE Downtown Hood River, Oregon, in the Columbia Parking Lot (between Fifth and Seventh Streets and Cascade Avenue and Columbia Street) TICKETS • 21+ Entry-Only Ticket: $10 • 21+ Beer Garden Ticket: Contact Your Local Community Bank $15 presale; $20 day-of.

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Page 11

Get Outside

The Gorge Business News

Wyeth Trailhead ~ Only Five More Miles to Go!

By Rick Roach

T

he Wyeth to Lindsey Creek segment of the Historic Columbia River Highway and State Trail has been completed and was officially opened after a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 3, 2019.

This three-mile segment, located between Cascade Locks and Hood River Oregon, is an important addition to a master plan to complete a 73mile continuous route through the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Of the 73-mile route, 51 miles will be navigable by car, bicycle or on foot, while the other 22 miles are inaccessible to automobiles. The route will connect Troutdale to The Dalles alongside I-84.

The Wyeth to Lindsey Creek segment is one of the segments in the route that is available only to hikers, bikers and rollers. It is a beautifully paved path, wide enough for lots of traffic, meandering through the forest and alongside the rockface of the nearby mountainside. A watering station at the Wyeth trailhead along with a bike fix-it station, and bathroom provide conveniences that make the journey enjoyable and safe.

The trail is an especially important piece of the route because it created a dedicated path around Shellrock Mountain which has the narrowest shoulder on I-84 and was quite dangerous for cyclists.

Retired Oregon State Parks Manager, Kevin Price, emceed the ribbon cutting and dedication of the new trail and spoke of the collaboration required by various agencies including Oregon State Parks and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).

Throughout the ceremony the theme embraced by the speakers was collaboration and cooperation. Price said there were times when they had to invent new ways to get things done because the agencies had no previous history of working together on such a complex project.

Jefferson Greene of the Warm Springs Tribe spoke of the cultural significance of the area and how important it is for everyone to recognize the natural beauty and sustenance of the landscape that has been here for thousands of years. Rian Windsheimer, ODOT Region 1 Manager, expressed thanks to ten different agencies and several key individuals while talking about the strong federal, state and local partnerships necessary for building the highway and trail system. Oregon State Parks Deputy Director, MG Devereux, stated the “the experience of creating a trail is also a lesson in our need for cooperation” and “just as no trail is used by just one person, no trail is created by one organization”.

Lynn Orr, Executive Director of The History Museum in Hood River, gave a brief overview of the history of the Wyeth area, mentioning the important work done by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the conscientious objectors who lived in a Civilian Public Service camp seven miles east of Wyeth. CCC work included; forestry, flood control, prevention of soil erosion and fighting forest fires as well as building many park structures, some of which are still in use today, from the 1933 until 1942 while the conscientious objectors worked in the areas of soil conservation, forestry, firefighting, agriculture, social services and mental and public health from

Jefferson Greene spoke at the Opening Ceremony

1941 to 1947. Caroline Lipps, owner of Thunder Island Brewing Co., shared her thoughts on how the trail is a great community asset and economic driver to bring people from Portland and other cities in the Pacific Northwest to take advantage of the many tourist activities in the Gorge.

It is quite exciting to think that there are only 5 more miles of development necessary to complete the entire 73-mile route. The remaining area is between Viento State Park and Ruthton Park and the work will not be easy. Funding is still needed for a challenging 1.6-mile section which includes Ruthton Point, just west of the city of Hood River but given time and the continued collaborative tenacity of the agencies and individuals involved I have no doubt that the work will be completed.

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Page 12

Oregon’s Team Trail Blazers and Moda to Visit Oregon Communities Seventh annual Rip City Rally route includes stops in Baker City, La Grande, Hermiston, The Dalles and Sandy

The Portland Trail Blazers and

Moda are proud to announce the Seventh Annual Rip City Rally. Beginning Monday, September 9, a team of Trail Blazers and Moda ambassadors and staff will embark on a week-long journey to cities and towns across Oregon, engaging with Trail Blazers fans all along the way. This event brings Oregon communities together with energy and enthusiasm to showcase the Trail Blazers as “Oregon’s Team”.

Baker City will be the starting point of this year’s rally on Monday, September 9.

From there the rally team will be traveling west to La Grande on Tuesday, September 10, Hermiston on Wednesday, September 11, The Dalles on Thursday, September 12, and finishing in Sandy on Friday, September 13.

The 2019-20 season marks the Trail Blazers 50th Anniversary, which will include special engagements for fans, in-game elements and sponsored activations to help trace the team’s journey dating back to 1970. To celebrate 50 years of Trail Blazers basketball, special activations and guests will appear all along the Rally route, bringing excitement for fans of all ages.

“The legacy of this franchise and the dedicated, passionate support of our fans deserves something special to mark 50 years.

The Rip City Rally is a great opportunity to bring the energy and excitement of the Trail Blazers 50th Anniversary Season to fans all over Oregon,” said Chris McGowan, President and CEO of the Trail Blazers and Rose Quarter. “We recognize the commitment our fans have given the organization over the last 50 years and we can’t wait to team up with our partner Moda to show our appreciation and connect with fans in their local communities.”

“We continue to build our partnership with the Trail Blazers on our shared commitment to work together to build healthier communities,” said Dr. William Johnson, president of Moda Health. “Each year, the Rally creates exciting opportunities for us to engage

with people across Oregon, to sit with them, to listen, to hear their stories. And all that builds toward the understanding that in the end we can indeed be better – better together.”

An entire day of events are scheduled in each city along the route. As part of the Trail Blazers’ and Moda’s partnership to showcase healthy and active living, events will focus on providing activities for kids, including school assemblies, Youth Basketball PE Takeovers and on-court Youth Basketball Activations at the Rip City Rally. The visit in each city along the route will conclude with a ceremonial flag raising with city officials, followed by a free community fair from 4-6 p.m. featuring activities for all ages.

Affiliates in the Trail Blazers Radio Network will participate in the festivities in each city (Baker City – KBKR 1490 AM; La Grande – KLBM 1450 AM; Hermiston – KTIX 1240 AM / 103.1 FM; The Dalles – KODL 1440 AM; Sandy – 620 AM) Below are the locations for each Rip City Fair along the Rally route: Baker City, September 9 – Main Street between Washington and Court La Grande, September 10 – Adams Ave between 3rd and 4th Hermiston, September 11 – Hermiston Community Center Parking Lot The Dalles, September 12 – Cascade Square Parking Lot Sandy, September 13 – Scales Ave between Proctor and Pioneer Many Trail Blazers personalities will participate in different legs of the rally, including Trail Blazers TV Broadcasters Kevin Calabro and Lamar Hurd, Courtside Reporter Brooke Olzendam, Trail Blazers Alumni, In-Arena Host Todd Bosma, Blaze the Trail Cat, the BlazerDancers and more!

Please visit trailblazers.com/rally to get updates and information all along the rally.

ABOUT MODA Founded in Portland in 1955, Moda is a health company committed to building healthier communities by helping our members get well sooner and live well longer. Our

family of companies includes Moda Health, Delta Dental of Oregon/Alaska, ODS Community Dental, EOCCO, Ardon Health, BenefitHelp Solutions, Astra Practice Partners, Healthy Grid, and Arrow Dental.

ABOUT THE PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS Members of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Portland Trail Blazers were founded in 1970 and purchased by the late Paul G. Allen in 1988. The team’s rich heritage includes 34 playoff appearances, three trips to the NBA Finals, an NBA championship in 1977 and a commitment to community service and sustainability.

The Trail Blazers are dedicated to positively impacting underserved kids and their families throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington where they live, learn and play. Portland is the first and only professional sports franchise to receive the prestigious National Points of Light Award for excellence in corporate and community service. The Trail Blazers home arena, the Moda Center, earned LEED Gold Recertification in 2015 after becoming the first existing professional sports venue in the world to receive LEED Gold status in 2010.

The team is also one of the founding members of the Green Sports Alliance. For more information, visit www.trailblazers.com.

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson www.thegorgebusinessnews.com

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The Gorge Business News

Taking Care of Business with Jordan

How To Develop Manageable Daily Goals With Break-Even Analysis

By Jordan Horn

A

Break-Even Analysis is a useful tool in understanding the level of production or sales volume required to recover your initial investment. Defining sales levels required to cover operational costs allows you to set safety allowances and determine how to set daily, monthly, and annual goals for staff. By communicating these manageable daily goals from the top down, you empower each level of your organization from top management down to frontline employees to positively impact your bottom line through knowledge and trust.

This basic model is also an efficient and effective way to validate any business model. If you can build a reasonable budget, you can determine the break-even quantity and determine if the daily or hourly sales goals are reasonable assumptions to move forward! Just remember these 9 steps: 1.

Classify Costs as Fixed, Variable, or Mixed 2.

Calculate Total Monthly Fixed and Variable Costs 3.

Plug in (Total Fixed Cost) / ((Selling Price) x (Variable Cost Per Unit) = Break-even Quantity 4.

Translate Quantity into Daily & Hourly Goals 5.

Communicate to Team 6.

Track Performance 7.

Reward & Improve 8.

Revisit & Revise as needed 9.

Improve your Bottomline!

The first step is to classify expenses into fixed, variable, or mixed costs and assign budgeted costs to each category. Fixed costs are those that maintain the same month to month such as fixed salaries, accounting and legal fees, telephone, rent, insurance, taxes, and owners draw (owners salary). Variable costs change based on volume changes such as direct labor, commissions, and cost of goods sold.

Mixed costs are those that include a variety of a base minimum cost and a variable component once over the minimum is used. An example includes electricity, water, and sewer.

A coffee stand is a great example where you have a consistent product with well-defined hours. While they sell a variety of products, the costs and expenses have a consistent average. By placing assumptions on average revenue per cup, fixed costs, and variable costs per cup you can determine a typical monthly budget.

In this model, I assume the average cup of coffee costs approximately $1 a cup and is sold for $3 with fixed costs totaling $7,150. The break-even quantity totals 3,575 cups of coffee required to be sold per month to meet your expenses. At first glance this volume seems out of range of possible.

To glean better insights, I recommend taking this to a daily number which is 120 cups of coffee sold a day and an even more manageable just under 10

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cups an hour! I know I’ve sat in line between 3 cars to get a cup of coffee and 10 cups an hour is a more reasonable number to grasp than over 3,500 a month!

By starting with a broad overview and taking it down to more digestible numbers you can see that the raw data becomes useful information necessary for an entrepreneur to know regarding their business as well as managers and frontline employees such as baristas. You can then leverage the knowledge you need to sell 120 cups of coffee in a low-tech manner to boost productivity through win-loss calendars and a simple white board to track cups sold as they occur daily.

A simple wall calendar, used to record shift totals of cups of coffee sold, offers a visual reminder of shift totals in a comfortable and manageable format. While each employee is responsible for recording their shifts performance, the manager or owner is responsible to mark a green or red mark through the day to represent a win or loss. When you get to the end of the month you can clearly see days that were at goal or above and those that were below. Then you can utilize that simple detail to motivate through simply communicating the necessary selling levels or find creative solutions to improve poor performing days. For example, offering unique offerings on specific days that are under performing consistently or specific times of day such as happy hour deals. As your business progresses and you anticipate higher returns, you must revise your daily goals to challenge and motivate employees. You can also establish an incentive to your team when they meet and exceed coffee quotas for the month.

A small price to pay for drastically improved net profits into your pocket.

Another source of additional income for coffee stands are the food add-ons purchased at an impulse such as donuts, muffins, and sweet breads. If you offer a daily goal for those items as

well than you can encourage and leverage baristas to upsell and increase your revenues with minimal effort other than empowering your staff by offering insight and information. Since the original break-even assumptions cover the fixed costs, these add on revenues are simply additional profit!

This method of making your main product or primary channel of income cover all fixed costs allows for flexibility and opportunity for secondary streams of income with lower barriers of entry.

Jordan Horn is an accomplished accountant and financial expert with experience in multiple industries. She holds an MBA in Finance from Keller Graduate School of Mangement and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in Accounting from DeVry University.

She enjoys helping others succeed by providing clear and accurate financial information to key stakeholders and by offering innovative solutions to problems.

Jordan is adventurous and enjoys outdoor activities, such as motor sports, camping and exploring. Jordan lives with her husband Dustin, and their two boys, near beautiful Astoria, Oregon.

Follow along on her adventures at www. discoverpines.com and on Instagram @discoverpines

Page 14

The Gorge Business News

Self-Improvement with Preston

The 3 Most Important Details to Your Personal Development

By Preston Roach

Be honest. Is this the 10th time you’ve

read an article about personal development?

Maybe you’ve read some of the classics like “Think and Grow Rich” or “How to Win Friends and Influence People.”

You have these aspirations to move on to the next step of your journey, but you bounce around from blog post to Youtube video and end up back where you started and not knowing where to start.

Do you start with finances? Work? Family? Ahhh why is it so hard!

Personal development doesn’t have to be so hard. Developing a personal development plan is not some mysterious difficult thing. Let me walk you through the 6 key areas of personal development that you need to focus on, and where to start.

Find your Whys This is always going to be step number 1.

You can’t truly put your all into anything unless you know why you’re doing it.

Forget about personal development for a minute. Just think about the last time you got out of bed and felt a real purpose to do something.

You had a reason to feel that way. There was a why behind it.

Then you took that purpose, and you owned it. You got more done in a few hours than you normally get done in an entire day.

That is how you should feel all the time, and that is the reason behind finding your why.

It will help you feel passionate about what you are doing.

It will keep you from comparing yourself to others, and instead just compare yourself to who you were yesterday.

Finding your whys will take time. Some of them may come right to mind, but some may take days or weeks to iron out. They will change over time as well.

You will notice that I used the plural form of why. Well that’s because you should have a why for the 6 major categories in your life.

• Family • Friends • Work • Health • Finances • Fun There are times in your life when one of these will be more important than the others, but it’s key to your success and development to have a why for all 6 categories.

Your whys will help you when you fail.

Your whys will teach you about yourself. But most importantly, your whys will get you out of bed in the morning with that passion to build yourself into who you aspire to be.

Build your Personal Development Plan After you understand your whys, you can move on to building your plan.

You will have your daily progress plan, monthly progress plan, and annual progress plan.

It’s that simple. Three things to keep in mind.

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That’s it.

What will you do each day to progress in your journey with the 6 categories?

What will you do this month to progress in your journey with the 6 categories?

What will you do this year to progress in your journey with the 6 categories?

Your plan will align with your whys, that’s why it was the first step. You now know what is most important to you. For help with a starting point on your plan, you can check out my post on personal development plan templates for beginners.

The plan itself is just a reference for you. It’s not even the most important piece of the puzzle.

The plan is there to help you push your limits. It’s there to help you become who you aspire to be. You know that you should be doing something every day to make yourself better, but you just haven’t known what to do or where to start.

You know your time here is short. You can feel each week moving faster than the last.

That’s why it’s so important to break your plan down into daily progress.

If you want a template to start with, you can click here for a free copy of the one that I use every day.

Track Your Performance One of the most overlooked pieces of a personal development plan is to keep track of where you’ve been. It feels like you’ve been working your ass off, but you don’t have anything to show for it.

That’s not true. You have a lot to show for it. You are healthier than ever. You are more focused than ever. You have more passion than ever.

You just haven’t been tracking your progress.

The easiest and most effective way to keep track of your progress is to journal.

Hands down, daily journaling is the one habit that has had the most impact on my life.

I can go back and read about what was going through my mind in January of 2018 and compare it to how I’m thinking now. It’s amazing to see how far you’ve come.

The Remaining Steps The purpose of this article is to help you find where to start. There is so much more to your personal development than what we talked about.

You have a network to build.

You need to make sure that you have a growth mindset instead of a fixed one.

You need to work on managing your time.

How many hours are you really wasting scrolling through instagram or snapchatting your friends?

You will need to learn how to deal with stress and anxiety. If you’re really progressing and pushing yourself every day, then you will have stress if you don’t learn how to manage it.

You will have to become more disciplined. What’s the point of going through all of the trouble of finding your why and building your plan if you don’t follow through?

I’m not saying all of these things to scare or overwhelm you.

I just want you to remind you that this article is just meant as a starting point. Take the time to really develop your whys for each of the 6 categories.

Go to www.progressninja.com to check out 25 personal development goals to keep in mind when you’re going through your day.

Wrapping Up Building your personal development plan doesn’t have to be hard. It doesn’t have to be confusing. You just need to know where to start.

Starting with your whys will catapult you to a new level of success and personal growth.

Some people will try to tell you that you need to set a bunch of goals to be successful, but without knowing the passion behind those goals then it’s just a bunch of wasted time.

Learning to compare yourself to who you were yesterday rather than the people around you is critical to your mental health and well being. By keeping track of your progress, you will be able to stop focusing on the people around you, and start focusing on YOU. Remember that there are a lot of steps to this personal development journey. Just think about the first one. Don’t get overwhelmed. Eat the elephant one bite at a time.

Preston is a personal finance, self improvement, and mental health blogger.

His passion is to help others make choices that will help them be more fulfilled, happier, healthier, and educated about money. He strives to write with honesty and integrity. His hobbies include reading, writing, traveling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and spending time with his wife and dogs.

Contact Preston at FIMillennials.com or progressninja.com

Page 15

The Gorge Business News

For the Love of Animals

Camp Beyond & Lucky’s Birthday at Cedar Creek Alpacas

By Lori Roach

Lucky the Alpaca will be turning one

and there is going to be a party to celebrate the little guys miraculous recovery after being attacked by a cougar when he was just one week old. Luckily for Lucky his momma, Amorette, is one tough girl and was determined to save her baby from the wild animal. The party will be held at Cedar Creek Alpacas on September 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Cook, Washington at 182 McNichols Road.

Cedar Creek Alpacas Boutique and Fiber Studio has been welcoming guests to the farm and boutique all summer long and recently hosted the Camp Beyond students.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Camp Beyond staff and the campers,” said Angela Rogers, owner of Cedar Creek Alpacas. “It started out a few years ago as a little service project for the campers and now it has become a highlight of our summer here on the farm. Many of the campers have never seen alpacas let alone scooped alpaca poo. They ask lots of great questions and teaching them needle felting is fun too. I enjoy seeing the creativity in the different age groups.”

According to Jon McPeters of Camp Beyond most of the kids who attend are from China with a few being from Taiwan as well. The daily

routine of Camp Beyond consists of classes on character and values in the morning, then they will all go on an adventure, have lunch, have another adventure experience then have another class before dinner.

“I want to impact their lives,” said McPeters. “This is what is on my heart. It is so cool to see the Chinese culture. I fell in love with it.”

For many of the students it is their first time experiencing something like Camp Beyond and the adventures there.

“I like to jump off the cliff and there is really cold water there,” said Demi, Lucky with his brave momma, Amorette who is from Beijing and likes to spend time with her friends and go to the mall when she is back at home.

“I like the caving part,” said Gogo, who is from Changchun. “It was dark and I really enjoy the feeling of being fearless and you never know what’s happening next but you keep moving on.”

At home Gogo likes to play basketball with his friends.

For more information about Cedar Creek Alpacas visit www.cedarcreekalpacas.net and be sure to ‘Like’ them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cedarcreekfiberarts and find them on Instagram @cedarcreekalpacas.

More information about Camp Beyond Angela Rogers teaches the students from Camp can be found at www.campbeyond.org and on Beyond how to needle felt at Cedar Creek Alpacas Facebook at www.facebook.com/campbeyond

Saturday and Sunday November 9th & 10th 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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