The Mountain Times October 2024

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Orchid Health Opens Hoodland Clinic in Welches

Welches, OR – Orchid Health is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its new Hoodland Clinic in Welches, set to officially open its doors on October 15, 2024. To celebrate this milestone, Orchid Health will host an open house on November 7, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, inviting the community to explore the new facility, meet the team, and learn more about the comprehensive healthcare services available at the clinic.

In addition to the clinic’s opening, Orchid Health proudly welcomes Dr. Douglas Lyon, MD, a family physician and epidemiologist, to the Hoodland team. A long-time resident of the area with a cabin in the community for nearly three decades, Dr. Lyon brings a deep understanding of local needs along with his extensive medical expertise.

TIMBERLINE LODGE RESCONSTRUCTION COMPLETE

By Justin Andress For The Mountain Times

On April 18, the Hoodland community heaved a collective sigh of relief

when first responders stopped a potentially ruinous fire from destroying Mt. Hood icon Timberline Lodge. Less than five months later, diligent repair efforts paid off, and officials at the Lodge say repairs have been completed.

For 87 years, historic Timberline Lodge has avoided disaster. In a region of the country that sees heavy rain every year as well as increasing danger from forest fires, that record is no small feat. So it seemed only a matter of time before some unforeseen event befell the historic hotel and ski destination.

That seemingly inevitable moment arrived in mid-April when embers from the Lodge’s chimney ignited the build-

ing’s attic space and roof. The odds of such an event occurring were (and remain) small. In a phone interview, John Burton, Director of Marketing and Public Affairs for Timberline Lodge, explained that the fire was “kind of like a perfect storm. That evening, the winds were blowing 30 to 40 [miles per hour].”

Those high winds conspired to set the roof and attic ablaze. Fortunately, hotel employees spotted the fire quickly and wasted no time calling the Hoodland Fire Department. First responders arrived shortly after 9:30 p.m. At that point, flames were clearly visible from the ground.

Response to the danger was swift and robust. As The Mountain Times reported in May, “In total, 10 fire engines, three ladder trucks, five water trucks (tenders), four Chief Officers, and four additional pieces of equipment responded to the fire. Fire crews from Hoodland, Clackamas, Gresham, Estacada, and Portland fire districts worked on scene.”

Welches Schools Welcome New Staff Members

By Peter Murphy The Mountain Times

There’s a long history of newcomers making their way down the western slopes of Mt. Hood, along the Old Oregon Trail and into western Oregon, and two new teachers have joined their ranks at the Oregon Trail School District in Welches.

Nestled amid the tall trees of the west side of the Oregon Cascades, the Oregon Trail School District encompasses 424 square miles in the Hoodland region of the Cascade Mountains, including Sandy, Boring, and Mt. Hood, but it turns out that

the two new trailblazing teachers are both at Welches School. With its headquarters in Sandy, the OTSD is a big, but not too-big district, with 3,000-plus students in eight elementary, middle and high schools. Both Teresa Peltier and Catherine Smith have joined the ranks at Welches Schools as a student counselor and teacher, respectively. (Welches is an elementary school and a middle school, operating on the same campus). Their motto is “Children Thrive Here,” and the two new staff members will help make that

Teresa Peltier and Catherine Smith

See NEW STAFF Page 4

Mountain Profile Cliff Fortune Mountain Profile

PLACE OF BIRTH? Newberg, Oregon. HOW LONG ON THE MOUNTAIN? Since 1986. IF YOU WERE NOT BROUGHT HERE AS A CHILD, WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE MOUNTAIN? Bought a Shadowhawk condo in 1985, planned to use it as a vacation place, but we loved the area too much and moved up here in 1986.

PROFESSION? Warehouse work for 37 years, then found my calling working for McMenamins Edgefield Winery for the last 11 years. Semi-retired, but keeping my hand in at Edgefield.

OTHER PROFESSIONS?Berry picking, Oxbow park maintenance, landscaping, hauling, truss builder, dairy farm, nursery and farm labor, milk plant, bakery, tofu plant, youth coach, foreign exchange student coordinator, golf marshal and wine and cider maker.

FAVORITE MOVIE? One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.

FAVORITE ACTRESS/ACTOR? Stormy Daniels (just kidding) and Jeff Bridges.

FAVORITE TV SHOWS? Ted Lasso, The Office, Parks and Rec.

FAVORITE BOOKS? I love to read fiction and non-fiction, but my favorite book is a cookbook, “Seductions of Rice” by Jeffery Alford and Naomi Duguid.

FAVORITE TYPE OF MUSIC? Bob Marley, Jimmy

FAVORITE FOOD? All of it, especially anything Asian or seafood-based.

FAVORITE HOBBIES? Skiing, golfing, cooking (and eating), traveling, mushroom hunting, live sporting events, reading and my favorite, being a Grandpa.

IF OFFERED A DREAM VACATION, WHERE WOULD YOU GO, AND WHY?

All of Asia, especially Thailand, to eat and enjoy their land and culture.

BEST LESSON LEARNED AS A CHILD? My parents really stressed “The Golden Rule” and I think that is probably the best advice I could give anyone.

DEFINING MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE OR YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT?

Marrying Becky, which made all my other accomplishments possible.

A MEMORABLE DINNER? Too many to single out just one. I do love our annual Christmas dinner. Becky calls it “The Feast of the Roast Beast.” Prime rib, laser potatoes, green salad, homemade bread and lots of wine with family and friends.

A FUNNY MOMENT FROM YOUR LIFE THAT YOU CAN SHARE? When I was about 13, I tied a rope to our bull’s neck, then tied the other end around my wrist. The idea was that I could take him to the unfenced pasture and the rest of our animals would stay close. He got spooked and took off running. I kept up for about 100 yards, then tripped. He pulled me through the neighbors strawberry field with 2 cows, 2 calves, 4 sheep and a pony, along with my dad in hot pursuit. About 1/2 mile later he finally stopped. It seems funny now.

IF YOU COULD INVITE ANYONE (PAST OR PRESENT) TO DINNER, WHO WOULD IT BE, AND WHY? The two best men I ever knew, my father Ron and my brother Larry, along with my entire extended family. I would love to get to visit with them and introduce them to all the wonderful new additions to our family.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN ONE WORD? Lucky.

WHEN YOU’RE NOT READING THE MOUNTAIN TIMES, WHAT BOOK/AUTHOR/MAGAZINE/OTHER DO YOU READ? I love to read, especially anything by John Steinbeck, Ken Kesey, Jack Kerouac, John Irving, Ivan Doig and most recently Amor Towles, all amazing story tellers.

IF YOUR LIFE WERE MADE INTO A PLAY OR MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE TITLE BE? “What Did I Do To Deserve All Of This?”

PET PEEVE? People not cleaning up after their pets, people who don’t control their pets, pets in restaurants and stores and people who think there is something wrong with me because I like animals, but not pets. Also tailgaters. BAD HABIT YOU’D LIKE TO BREAK? Being judgmental and gossiping.

FAMOUS PERSON(S) YOU HAVE MET, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES? I once flew to Phoenix sitting next to a woman who complained the entire flight about her boyfriend. Just before we landed, she turned to me and said, “You have no idea who I am, do you?” Then she introduced herself as Tanya Tucker, she was going home to break up with Glen Campbell.

FAVORITE QUOTE? “Here’s to it and here’s from it and here’s to it again. If you ever get to it, and don’t do it, you may never get to it to do it again.” — Joe Cotter

FAVORITE PART OF THE MOUNTAIN TIMES? Features about the Hoodland Fire Department, Skyway ads, Letters to the Editor and of course the “Mountain Profile.”

Cliff, Johnny Clegg, Jimmy Buffet, Tom Petty and Elvis Costello.

A Perfect Day for Kiwanis’ Walk in the Park

By Ty Walker

It was a beautiful day for a walk in the park.

The sun shone on smiling faces Sunday, Aug. 25, for one of the Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp’s biggest fundraisers of the year – the 2024 Walk, Roll Or Stroll.

The Kiwanis could not have picked a more perfect late summer’s day. Kiwanis Development and Communications Director Skye Burns thanks everyone who helped make this year’s event a sun- splashed success.

“This year, we were able to raise almost $50,000 thanks to the generous support from all of our teams, participants, sponsors and volunteers,” she said.

Almost 200 participants took to the 1-mile loop on the grounds of Oaks Amusement Park in Portland. The Kiwanis were very pleased with the large turnout for the 17th anniversary of the event.

“Participants enjoyed lovely weather and a barbecue lunch thanks to Performance Food

Service, which donated the food,” Burns said. “Ice cream was donated by Salt And Straw.”

Other attractions included live music from the Kiwanis Camp’s very own Staff Infection band, face painting, a balloon artist, rounds of Bingo and more.

The Walk, Roll Or Stroll raised money for Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp, located on a fully accessible 22-acre campsite in the Rhododendron community of the Mt. Hood National Forest.

For more than 85 years, local Kiwanis have served individuals with developmental disabilities, providing outdoor recreational

programs in the winter and summer. They serve 500 to 600 campers of all ages each year.

On any given summer day, campers can be found catching fish, conquering their fears on the adventure course and zipline, splashing at the pool, riding horses for the first time, whitewater rafting, paddling a canoe on Trillium Lake, and dancing around the campfire.

Wheelchair accessible trails and innovations such as adaptive saddles, harnesses, and bicycles make the traditional camp experience available to all. Camp doesn’t just offer outdoor activities. It offers a chance for

people with disabilities to make new friends and build community in a friendly, non-judgmental environment where they can feel empowered and included.

At this year’s Walk, Roll Or Stroll, Kiwanis Foundation Board President Cary Solberg won first place as the top individual fundraiser. Triple AAA Oregon/ Idaho was the presenting sponsor for the event.

The Kiwanis hold an Auction and Gala in the spring. It is the biggest fundraiser on Mt. Hood Kiwanis’ calendar. For more information about Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp, go online to mhkc.org.

The Mountain Times

Dr. Lyon’s career spans over 25 years of experience working both locally and internationally with organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, WHO, and the UN High Commission for Refugees.

“We are at our best when we are able to provide consistent long-term care beyond the presenting problem; where we are able to provide care to the whole patient, care to their family, and care for the community,”

said Dr. Lyon. “Joining Orchid Health is an exciting opportunity to connect with my neighbors and provide the kind of compassionate, relationship-based care that makes a real difference.”

Orchid Health’s Hoodland Clinic will offer a range of services, including primary care, sameday appointments, chronic disease management, behavioral health, pediatrics, and wellness visits, all delivered with a focus on building strong patient-provider relationships.

The open house on November 7th will provide an opportunity for community members to tour the clinic, meet Dr. Lyon and the rest of the Hoodland team, and learn more about

the patient-centered approach that defines Orchid Health. Attendees will enjoy light refreshments and can enter raffles for prizes.

Orchid Health is committed to revolutionizing healthcare in rural communities by ensur -

ing accessible, high-quality, and compassionate care for all. The Hoodland Clinic is the latest addition to the Orchid Health family, which now includes locations across Estacada, Oakridge, McKenzie River, Sandy, and Elmira.

For more information about the Hoodland Clinic, the grand opening, or to schedule an appointment, please visit Orchid Health’s website or call 971-333-0494.

While Ms. Peltier isn’t exactly a newcomer to the Welches community, having lived there for nine years, she’s now formally a part of the staff. Last year, she was a substitute teacher in the Oregon Trail School District and a volunteer, and now is fully on board as a student counselor for grades K-8 at Welches School. She has a Bachelors of Science from Cornell University, and is pursuing a Masters of School Counseling from OSU. Outside of academia, she has decades of experience volunteering with youth, from youth media production classes and after school

programs to earn-a-bike programs and fundraising.

As for being the “go-to” person for all the students, Ms. Peltier is now working full time in a job she has wanted for some time. “I wanted to work for Welches School because I believe in the importance of excellent public education in helping our young people achievenow and all throughout their lives. I also believe in the power of a strong, engaged community, and Welches School is a cornerstone of the Mt. Hood community. I am honored that I have been trusted by the Welches School team and our student’s families to

support our students with their social-emotional, academic, and career readiness needs and ambitions”.

Just down the hall, figuratively speaking, Catherine Smith teaches 7th and 8th grade Math and Science at the Middle School, as well as electives in Environmental Science and Creative Science. With her BA from Dartmouth College and a Masters of Education from Portland State University and a few years teaching middle school in Beaverton, she recently moved to Welches where she has found a teaching environment that helps her pass on her love of learning. “I have always loved learning, and I’m hoping to share

that enthusiasm with students. I have been really fortunate to have many wonderful teachers, so I know that great teaching can really help students fall in love with a subject.”

Among other accolades, Welches School features a 93% retention rate for teachers, a sure sign that the newcomers have found a long-term educational home.

Mt.

Meet the Athlete

Michiah Turin Works to be the Best Leader and Passer for the Pioneers

By Joe O’Leary

The Mountain Times

Prior to eighth grade, Michiah Turin hadn’t taken a single organized snap of football as quarterback. Two years later, Turin is starting at the same position for Sandy High School under the lights week in and week out. And not only is he starting, he is doing a good job at executing what head coach Josh Dill has asked of him. When you watch Turin lead an offense, you’re immediately going to question how he never played QB until very late in his youth development process. Turin leads his offense and supports his defense in a way any coach would be grateful to see. This, compounded with a dependable arm that’s kept the ball out of harm’s way, has led to the Pioneers having a very solid start to the season. However, if you ask Turin about his view of the SHS offense, you’re not likely to hear him say

anything like that.

“My job is very easy, with the line giving me five seconds on every play to make passes, and my receivers just being amazing at getting open,” Turin explained, “I have two amazing running backs, even three,” Alongside this, Turin plays with a defense that proved from the get-go they can set their offense up with optimal chances to succeed, completely shutting down Franklin to start the season, allowing just 13 points (to Sandy’s 38). The Lightning’s offensive production in that contest was almost exclusively due to three-star tight end and Idaho commit Cash Landau having a fantastic individual performance within an otherwise dead unit.

“I love building off of (my teammates) energy and leading by example, doing the right thing,” Turin said. A builder Turin certainly is, with him building new things

within his community before he ever took a snap for SHS. Turin’s parents are the owners of the Jamba Juice that opened in Sandy in July, and not only does Michiah work there, the business was originally his idea.

“I had the idea in my business class last year. I took it home to my parents and told them what a great business opportunity I thought it was, one that would really take off in Sandy. I did a bit of research, got it started, helped with the build out, and I’ve been working there since,” Turin explained. Following the aforementioned week one victory, Turin exclaimed “free Jamba for everyone!” while the team celebrated and shared praises. Once the initial jubilation of starting in such a comprehensive way had passed, Turin reflected on how it felt finally living the dream he had fought to secure for months when walking back to the team bus.

“I felt like everything was in slow motion, I took (the first snap) and it all slowed down, I felt like the game was in my hands, my teammates played alongside it and carried us to a win,” Turin said. In the team’s second game, Turin and the offense started very slowly, but rallied and responded in the fourth quarter to take a 21-20 lead over Hillsboro with three minutes left. This was followed with an unfortunate final drive

that featured numerous questionable calls going the Spartan’s way before a touchdown to notch SHS’s first loss of the year, 27-21. Following the game, the sideline was ripe with bitterness and aggravation, especially in the 15 year-old quarterback. Overall, Turin has been able to take on the challenges of his role in a truly professional manner, looking to put his team first and take whatever part he needs to in order to win games.

“We really want to win a playoff game. It’s lit a fire under everyone, we’re all working our butts off to make that goal a reality,” Turin said. As the season progresses and Turin continues to establish himself within the gadgety, explosive Dill offense, only time will tell if the Pioneers can reach their goals. One thing is certain, however, Michiah Turin will stop at nothing to make that happen.

Focus

Hoodland Student

By Ty Walker

The Mountain Times

Gus Reasor says that the self-discipline and skills he learned in the Marine Corps have helped him prepare for the Hoodland Fire District Student Program. After growing up in Gresham and graduating from Barlow High School, Reasor had his sights set on a career in the military.

He served four years, achieving the rank of lance corporal by the time he left the Marines. He became interested in a career where helping people in emergency situations – when lives are at stake – is part of his job.

“It gives you self-disci-

pline and teaches you a lot of skills that some people never really think about learning,” Reasor said of his military training. “It physically and mentally gets you prepared for stuff like this.”

Reasor decided firefighting was the best path forward because it would give him the opportunity to help people more often than some other jobs. He began by enrolling in the Hoodland student program a few months ago.

“It’s very eye-opening, it’s a good experience,” he said. “I love working with everybody here. I’ve learned a lot and get to help people while I do it.

Reasor has been assigned to the 48 hour on/96 hour off “A shift” at Hoodland, where he works alongside full time and volunteer firefighters. He recently started taking firefighter classes at Portland Community College to earn his firefighter 1 and 2 certification. He is also training to become an Emergency Medical Technician.

While training toward his goal of becoming a career firefighter, Reasor finds time to maintain a regular part-time job with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office as a community service crew leader. He is impressed by just how professional

everybody is here in Hoodland. “Everybody here is very good at their jobs,” he said. “Every day they practice something to be better and maintain the skills they already have.”

He recommends the Student Program for anyone interested in becoming a firefighter. “Especially Hoodland, because of its location and the amount of people coming through during the tourist seasons, like summer and winter, you see people from all walks of life,” Reasor said. “We get a wide variety of calls. We get a lot of traffic collisions because of Highway 26 and medical emergencies are always interesting.”

Students chosen for the Hoodland Fire District Student Program will receive tuition assistance, including books and other education expenses. Each position is for two years, with the potential of continuing for a third year to obtain a paramedic degree and certification. Along with the financial assistance, all resident students will receive free room and board at the Government Camp Station and a living stipend of $400 a month. For more information about the Hoodland Fire District Student Program, go online to https://www.hoodlandfire.gov/student-program, or phone 503-622-3256

Gus Reasor

Lee Perry Memorial Represents His Passion for Skiing

By Ty Walker The Mountain Times

The brass plaque mounted on the recently completed Lee Perry memorial bench says it all.

“Lee Perry loved his family, friends, the community and his country. Take time to enjoy the flowers.”

The plaque was installed this past June – springtime – when flowers bloom. It was the finishing touch on the memorial for the longtime Government Camp man who helped make his community beautiful and shared a passion for skiing.

Every spring Perry planted flowers in the area around the Barlow Trail Monument, across from the Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum. So that’s where his memorial bench sits

– a physical representation of the things he loved.

The custom work of art was conceived by the Government Camp community, friends and family. Forged by Bend blacksmith Hunter Dahlberg, it is intended to replicate a ski chairlift as a tribute to Perry’s lifelong love of skiing. The outriggers symbolize Perry’s involvement in helping design and develop adaptive snow sports equipment for amputee skiers.

On the rear of the bench, flowers are incorporated in the artwork to acknowledge his annual planting project. The plaque is surrounded by stars commemorating his service to the U.S. Army. Perry was a proud veteran awarded the Bronze Star in the Korean War.

The Lee Perry memorial bench was a Government Camp community project about four years in the making. It was headed up by Perry’s longtime good friend and neighbor, Lee Englesby. He launched a successful online fundraising campaign that got it all started. Working hand in hand with Perry’s son Victor, other surviving family members and friends, the tribute became a reality.

“It’s a solid piece of art that will be there forever, and every winter it’s buried in snow,” Englesby said. “It comes out in the spring with the flowers.

“It was his love of handicapped skiers, his love of being a ski instructor, his love of being a veteran, his love of the community of Government Camp. So we tried to incorporate all of that about Lee. His family has taken over what he used to do, with the flower planting that continues.”

Lee Perry died Jan. 5, 2021, in Government Camp. It was his friend with whom he coincidentally shared a first name, Lee Englesby, who found his car parked outside in the snow with the door open. Upon further inspection, he saw Perry deceased inside the car. He was 91.

Perry lived a long, active life and skiing was a major part of it. Born June 3, 1930, in Portland, he graduated from Franklin High School and attended Port -

land State University. He became a certified ski instructor, teaching generations of families on Mount Hood at Timberline Ski School then Powder Hound Ski School, which he owned and operated with his son Victor the last 26 years of his life.

He married Judith Roake in 1968 and they were married for 30 years. Other survivors include his brother Richard, son Victor, two grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

“He was a colorful character of the mountain,” Englesby said. “Everybody loved him. Everybody has a story to tell about him.”

Englesby likes to tell the story about how Perry used to buy a large salmon at the supermarket and put it in his cooler. He’d take it to go

fishing by a small creek near where he lived and show it off to friends as a big catch he made on

his line.

“He was a jokester,” Englesby said.

VIEW FROM THE MOUNTAIN

From the publisher’s desk

HELLO MOUNTAIN TIMERS,

I wanted to share something with you that I find absolute joy in.

Whenever I am out and about visiting different businesses on the mountain, it always makes me feel extremely proud to see everyday folks just sitting and reading the paper. I have seen folks coming into some of the local area restaurants and grabbing a paper as they walk in, sit down, enjoy their meal while reading, and then tuck the paper under their arm and walk out when they have concluded their meal.

I have seen folks chatting at coffee shops pick up a paper. I have had folks walk by me with papers in their hands. I have walked into stores where folks are sitting around reading the paper. I have gone to check some of our paper boxes we have around town that are stuffed full of papers at the beginning of each month, only to find out towards the end of the month that they are all out.

As you may have guessed, runninga local paper like this is a labor of love.

I have the privilege of working with so many amazing people that help put this paper together. It is such a reward to be

able to quietly witness our readers enjoying all of the hard work that we put into making this little paper shine.

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 503-6223289.

DEAR EDITOR:

We live with the bears; the bears live with us. However, our garbage is not good for the bears or the raccoons either. We do not want to encourage them in this predation. And bears are not good company on evening or early morning dog walking.

People who put their garbage out before pick-up day then most often clean up their own driveways if those critters have dumped it.

But what about the places where there is no one home or it is a vacationer, a renter? Who do you ask to pick up dumped trash?

Here’s an idea: require bearproof cans for the short term rentals and others who set out garbage cans but are not going to be onsite after that. It is not realistic to think the neighbor or the renter will do that. Maybe sometimes but not as a matter of course. So could bear-proof cans be part of the County requirements of STRs? What do you think?

Bruce Ryan, Sandy River Lane

KIND SIR-

In Ty Walker’s article: Rev it Up and Go to the Sandy Cruisin’ Car Show he incorrectly identifies Anne Chambers’ husband as Kevin. Anne Chambers has been married to Rick Chambers since 1971.

Your prompt correction of this error is much appreciated.

Jeni Chambers

Ready for Wildfire?

Watch for Red Flag Warnings, Power Shut-offs

Y Watch and listen for Red Flag Warnings: This means warm temperatures, very low humidities, and strong winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger. Monitor weather and news reports when such conditions are in the forecast.

Y Be ready for Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPSs): when Portland General Electric turns off the power to reduce the risk of wildfire when conditions threaten its ability to safely operate the grid. For current PSPS information, see portlandgeneral.com/psps-info.

Y Sign up for emergency alerts at oralert.gov

Backyard Burn Season is Closed Until Wet Weather Arrives

Info: Hoodland Fire District: 503-622-3256. Sandy (served by Clackamas Fire): 503-742-2945

Hoodland Fire District #74 CERT

RFP: Neighborhood Chipping Services

Response Date: October 8, 2024 by 5 pm PST

This Request for Proposals (RFP), issued

by the Hoodland Fire Protection District #74 (HFD) is put forth seeking a professional contractor to provide Neighborhood Chipping Services that are fully compliant with the industry best practices. Request for Proposals: Neighborhood Chip-

ping Service packets are available on the Hoodland Fire District website www.hoodlandfire.gov To request a packet to be emailed to you, contact Kelli Ewing at Hoodland Fire District #74 by phone (503) 622-3256 or by email hoodland@hoodlandfire.org.

APPLICATION

DEADLINE: Interested parties must prepare and submit all required documents no later than 5pm (PST) on October 8, 2024. Respondents may mail or hand deliver a cover sheet and attachment(s) addressing the response requirements

before the deadline to HFD at 69634 E. Hwy 26, Welches, OR 97067 OR email to jimprice@hoodlandfire.org Late proposals will not be reviewed. Questions about proposal submission should be sent by October 1, 2024 to jimprice@hoodlandfire.org

LETTERS POLICY

Letters to the Editor & Commentaries must be typed and include the sender’s name, town and phone number for verification purposes. Commentaries must not exceed 600 words. We reserve the right to edit for grammar, clarity and length. We have the right to refuse content we deem inappropriate for any reason, without consent.

SEND SUBMISSIONS TO The Mountain Times, PO Box 1031, Welches, Oregon 97067 OR EMAIL TO matt@mountaintimesoregon.com.

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Display Advertising The Mountain Times rate card is available to advertisers by contacting the office at 503-622-3289 or matt@ mountaintimesoregon.com. The MT offers full-service, in-house graphic design to its advertisers.

Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in the paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent office policy or position of the Mountain Times or its clients.

Copyright All material in The Mountain Times is protected by copyright and may not be reproduced or distributed in any form without written permission from the Publisher.

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 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

From top left: Lisa Galbraith, Rene Wence, Melissa Hall, Doug Hall, George Howland, Chris Howland and Seaberg Einarsson.

Inside Salem Opinion

Legislator’s Letter: An Update from Rep. Jeff Helfrich

We are only a few weeks away from the 2024 election, and a few months away from the 2025 legislative session. During that session, we will look to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing our district and our state. With that in mind, I wanted to highlight a few things for the upcoming session that I feel are important.

A few weeks ago, HD 52 hosted the Joint Committee on Transportation roadshow. This vital committee is tasked with addressing what many believe to be the focal point of the 2025 legislative session: a new transportation package. It will look to improve on many of the shortcomings from the 2017 transportation package.

Oregon has aging infrastructure that needs to be updated and repaired. This district alone has several bridge projects that need funding to be able to continue our economic viability in the future. Rural communities like Hood River, The Dalles, and our friends on the mountain rely heavily on highways and back roads, many that

have not seen substantial repairs in years. These roads form the backbone of our firefighting efforts during wildfire seasons and become the only way by which people can receive assistance during our winter storms. Without significant investment, many communities will be left to struggle during natural disasters. As much as I expect transportation to be a focus of this upcoming session, we know that Oregon has other pressing needs. Along with fixing our aging infrastructure, in 2025 my caucus and I will fight hard to try to get us back to basics on many of our top priorities like education and public safety, while also looking to

Local News

expand on the work we did in the 2024 Short Session to address our housing and drug crisis. When it comes to education, Oregon is the only state in the union where quality has continued to decline after COVID19. It is my belief that the primary focus of the classroom should be teaching children how to read and write and preparing them to interact effectively with society upon graduating. By shifting our focus away from enforcing these standards over the last few years, we have done future Oregonians a huge disservice. It must be addressed.

While we recriminalized hard drug use during the 2024 Short

Mountain Matters: Back to School

By Amber Ford

The Mountain Times

Session, we must do more to get people into treatment and crack down on drug distribution until we can restore public safety and health back to their prior levels. Cleaning up our streets, so people can start to recognize their cities and feel safe in them again, has to be a priority this coming session. Building a brighter future for our state will take hard work and compromise, but I’m confident we will be able to put partisan bickering aside and get things done.

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.

As summer comes to an end and the local pools and swimming holes close up for the year, many local Mt. Hood Villages parents, teachers and children prepared for their back to school traditions and routines. From meet and greets with teachers, back to school clothes and supply shopping and getting back into extra curricular activities, many families from the Mt. Hood Villages to Sandy have begun their routines in similar fashions.

While students had the week before school began to prepare both physically and mentally for the upcoming school year, many local staff

and teachers reported a week early to prepare classrooms, attend meetings and get lesson plans all prepared for the eager young minds that awaited. Retired teacher and guidance counselor Cindi Sempert fondly remembers the preparation and the work that was required to get students and her own children ready for the start of school. “Teachers go back the week before students, usually for four days of in-service, but many teachers go back on their own earlier than that to get ready,” Sempert said. “As a teacher/counselor I always went in early to work on my own to be sure things were as ready as possible for the first day of school. Handouts (syllabus, classroom procedures, first lessons, bulletin boards, seating chart forms, IEPS

and 504 plans were read ahead of time so I was aware of accommodations for specific students,” Sempert added. When preparing for the first week of school, parents are also taking steps to ready their children for the shift in seasons. Mt. Hood Villages resident Kelsey Friend has had eight children prepare for back to school mornings and always finds it helpful to prepare in advance. “We involve our kids in everything to get ready for school,” Friend said. “They organize their supplies and pack them in their backpack, they choose what they want for their first school lunch and help make it, and they choose what they’d like to wear and set it out the night before. I think letting them be in charge of their school preparations helps make for a

pretty successful first day,” Friend added.

While feelings vary from student to student in terms of excitement levels and nerves for going back to school, both Sempert and Friend have found that early preparation helps ease students back into the routine.

“Have a good attitude and be patient with them [children],” Sempert said. “When they get home from school, ask them how their day went and ask for details. Ask what they learned or who they ate lunch with or what sort of activities they think they might get involved with. I also suggest setting an established time and place to do homework and even if they don’t have homework, have them read or do educational types of puzzles for at least a half hour in order to help get them into a routine

of doing schoolwork at home when necessary,” Sempert added. Similar to Sempert’s advice, Friend also finds that encouraging children to grow and learn with the teachers during the school year is very important. “I think it’s incredibly important to let go and let the teachers do their job,” Friend said. “This will be one of the hardest but most crucial things you do for your kiddo. There will be separation anxiety, tears, and outbursts but it’s important to support them rather than “rescue” them from these emotions. We have amazing, experienced teachers up here as well as an incredible office and support staff. Your child’s emotional needs will be met and it will be an awesome growing experience for the both of you,” Friend added.

Mountain Representative Jeff Helfrich keeps the community updated with an exclusive look at the legislative process.

Hunter and Fisher Friend.

Queer Campout Unites West Coast Campers In Mt. Hood Community

By Justin Andress

The Mountain Times Community was the focus at Wander Free and Queer’s Queer Campout held September 13 through September 16 at Mt. Hood Village RV Resort.

On a crisp Friday in late summer, outdoor enthusiasts from around the West Coast came together for an experience like no other as Wander Free and Queer hosted their first Queer Campout.

A business owned by Mt. Hood locals Danella Demarry and Allie Schouten, Wander Free and Queer focuses on increasing visibility among the LGBTQ+ community. The company sells a variety of merchandise like stickers, t-shirts, and crocheted items,

but its primary goal is the promotion of self-acceptance alongside a love for the great outdoors. This theme runs throughout the couple’s social media channels, where thousands of followers tune in to watch the women explore the rural areas of the Pacific Northwest.

Fortheir first Queer Campout, Demarry and Schouten set their sights on a location close to home. Several neighboring campsites in the Mt. Hood Village RV Resort became a home base for the group throughout the weekend. The spot was the perfect jumping-off point for trips to Wildwood Recreation Site and Trillium Lake.

Between excursions, Demarry and

Schouten organized activities like Camp Bingo, an icebreaker game designed to get campers talking to one another, and seminars focused on first aid and the fundamentals of reading a map.

“The goal was to get queer people together in nature to connect in a sober environment and to participate in outdoor activities that they wouldn’t otherwise get to access, try new things, and promote visibility in the outdoor space,” said Schouten.

Added Demarry, “And specifically in the Mt. Hood Territory – we wanted to highlight some of the things we have found to be so incredible out here that are maybe a little underrated or overlooked.”

The Queer Campout was no niche celebration. It was a demonstration of the Mt. Hood community’s commitment to inclusion. Before the event, Demarry and Schouten contacted local businesses and were met with exuberant support.

Mt. Hood Territories helped cover the

cost of the campsites. Explained Schouten, “Financially, we wouldn’t have been able to do this without their support.”

Coffee House 26 donated daily coffee. Northwest Kitchen donated baked goods that catered to individual campers’ dietary needs. REI donated equipment to those campers who didn’t have it. Hoodland Shuttle transported the group to Trillium Lake free of charge. Once at Trillium, Mt. Hood Outfitters provided free paddle boats and kayaks for attendees.

More opportunities to sponsor the fun could be in the near future. “We would love to partner with other Mt. Hood Territory businesses that want to be highlighted as safe and inclusive to our community.”

In total, 30 campers attended the event, paying for admission on a sliding scale from $150 to $250.

Despite a Saturday night rainstorm, moods remained high throughout the weekend. Of the unexpected weather,

Demarry said, “I think the great outdoors is unpredictable. So there were some things that we couldn’t control. One of the things about the queer community, though, is that we are just incredibly adaptable, resilient, persistent, and just so caring and thoughtful. As soon as it started raining we had people jumping in with tarps and huddling together.”

As the weekend wrapped up, Schouten stated, “I think it went better than I could have dreamed or expected. “Danella did such a good job. I’ve never been prouder of her.”

For her part, Demarry summed up the weekend by describing her favorite moment. “I was behind the group of people on the paddleboard watch -

ing everybody in front of me – just watching the most beautiful group of humans do something so brave and new in the company of each other.”

This won’t be the last time Wander Free and Queer hosts campers for a trip to the mountain. The plans for another Queer Campout are already gestating, and it’s only a matter of time before the Mt. Hood community hosts another group of eager queer campers.

As Schouten put it, “I feel really fortunate about the group of people that showed up here. I really feel like I made potentially lifelong connections. Everybody was just so positive and supportive and wanted to be involved in everything. I’m just thrilled with how it went.”

Bigfoot: Creature or Myth of the Pacific Northwest?

By Amber Ford

The Mountain Times

Bigfoot: Man, myth or a creature yet to be identified by scientists?

For centuries the idea of Bigfoot or Sasquatch has mystified locals in the Pacific Northwest and around the world. From television series hosted by scientists and amateur research teams to legends passed down through different Native

American tribes across the country, the idea of Bigfoot has become a popular conversation –fact or fiction.

Whether this real or fictional creature knows it or not, Bigfoot has become the unofficial mascot of the Pacific Northwest. From eyewitness accounts to some scientific evidence in the form of footprints, hair specimens, eyewitnesses

and vocal recordings, the idea of Bigfoot sharing our National Forests is not so far-fetched. Mt. Hood Villages resident and dedicated Bigfoot researcher Todd Neiss not only believes these creatures exist, but has done extensive research which has been featured on several different television programs over the course of the last decade.

“Over the course of the past three decades, I have conducted numerous investigations, as well as led several full-scale expeditions across the US and Canada,” Neiss said. “One of the largest expeditions I led was called “Operation: Sea Monkey” in 2016. This was a fullscale expedition unlike any other in that we chartered a 50-foot trawler out of Campbell River, British Columbia, and used it as a base of operations while conducting research in the remote Broughton Archipelago, a chain of over 90 small uninhabited islands between Vancouver Island and the Brit-

ish Columbia mainland,” Neiss added. While that particular expedition produced no tangible evidence to support the claim, Neiss regarded this experiment as a successful test run for future investigations. While investigative professionals such as Neiss regard the Pacific Northwest as a hotspot of sorts for research on Bigfoot, local Oregonians have had their fair share of experiences when it comes to this elusive creature. According to Rob Nees of Portland, his experience not only made him a firm believer in the idea of Bigfoot, but he also shared this most unique moment with his wife while camping out near Hagg Lake. According to Neiss, his experience was not only hair-raising, but a most memorable part of his life in Oregon. “My wife Allison, and I rented a canoe and were fishing in the middle of the lake which is surrounded by forest,” Nees said. “There’s a little

clearing on what I think is the north that goes up a hillside. We were both looking that way and saw this rusty/brown thing run across the clearing maybe 150 yards away. At first I thought it was a bear but it was definitely running upright on two legs. It was quite tall and really fast. Allison and I looked at each other and exclaimed, “did you see that?!” Nees added.

Although research has provided some evidence with regard to hair samples, footprints and vocal recordings, eyewitness testimonies have become the backbone of many studies on the creature. “I observed several creatures while researching on the Omaha Indian Reservation in 2020,” Neiss said. “These were nocturnal encounters where, in combination with vocalizations,my team and I observed the phenomenon of “eye shine” in pitch blackness over a period of five nights,” Neiss added.

While a firm confir -

mation on whether or not these creatures truly do share the National Forests, coastlines and Pacific Northwest communities with humans, it is fair to say that dedicated researchers such as Neiss will continue their work on positively locating and identifying this most elusive creature. “The bigfoot is a species unlike any other,” Neiss said.

“Their survival depends on stealth and evasion. I believe they have specialized natural capabilities which aid them in their ability to remain elusive and difficult to detect. I am currently working on several theories which will prove my hypothesis,” Neiss added.

Bigfoot Researcher Todd Neiss.

Robert E. Boertien: Bringing Oregon History to Life

By Marie Kennedy

Mountain Times

The

Meet Robert (Bob) Boertien, an author whose literary work captures the frontier spirit of Oregon. Bob and his wife Kris have called “the mountain” home for 14 years, it being a community that has long been a haven for artists and writers.

Bob, a retired law enforcement officer, has published three western

novels, with a fourth to be released next year. He is currently working on book five. We met recently on a comfortably cool morning at his home in Welches, chatting beneath a gazebo in his backyard.

Bob’s origins trace back to a small farm near the Canadian border where his youth was shaped by farm chores and tending to horses and cattle, and

he developed a deep connection with nature. These formative experiences would later weave their way into his novels, bringing the memories of childhood back to life through his books.

figured I’d try my hand at writing a novel. I penned my first western and submitted it to a publishing house that specialized exclusively in westerns. They were impressed and offered me a contract for five books.”

His western novels are unique, set in Oregon in the early 1900s, centered around compelling crime investigations and mysteries. Well-researched and rich with local history, his books feature vibrant, lifelike characters. Most notably, the women in his books are strong, independent, and play prominent roles in the storylines.

the Salmon River. “I have found this beautiful setting to be very conducive to creativity, and the history associated with this region to be fascinating.”

“I started with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s office right out of graduation from Washington State,” he says, “and then went to school part-time and got a master’s degree from the University of Portland.”

During his years with the sheriff’s department, he began writing non-fiction, selling articles about innovative policing programs and search-and-rescue planning techniques to law enforcement trade journals.

“When I retired from law enforcement I

Bob’s passion for Oregon history is clear. “You know, one of the scenes takes place at the gold mine on Huckleberry Mountain. And there’s mention of a war between the sheepmen and the cattlemen in Central Oregon that occurred in early 1900. I use the history to enhance my stories.”

“I truly enjoy writing western novels, but I am also determined to do my small part to preserve and promote this genre, with the hope that my books will appeal to a wider demographic.”

As his contract with this publisher comes to a close, Bob reflects that the fifth book will likely be the last in this series.

“I will miss these characters,” he admits, “and will have a hard time saying goodbye.”

Bob has also written spiritually themed pieces for Upper Room magazine, often drawing inspiration from his work with the seniors he encounters regularly. Some readers may recognize Bob as the Meals on Wheels guy for the Hoodland Senior Center. He has also served on its board.

“The seniors living up here are amazing people! I enjoy working with them. They have such great stories to tell.”

Bob and wife Kris take daily walks along

A rather unique bumper sticker on his car reads, “Western Writers: saving the American West one story at a time,” encapsulates Bob’s dedication to preserving the legacy of the American West through his storytelling.

During the tumult, resort staff calmly escorted guests from the building and arranged for them to stay at nearby hotels. It took just two hours before the fire was declared officially under control and a mere three hours longer before firefighters fully extinguished the blaze. The response was so capable, in fact, that fire and water damage were kept to a bare minimum. As

Local News

Burton explained, the Lodge was able to return to “full ops basically three days after the fire.”

Burton and the staff at Timberline Lodge were effusive in their praise for the efforts of the firefighters. “Our first responders did a remarkable job,” he said. “We cannot thank them enough.”

In a stroke of luck, water and fire damage was limited to the attic and roof. As a result, guests staying at the Lodge suffered no injuries, nor were any of their possessions damaged. Indeed, it seems the largest inconvenience suffered by Lodge visitors was having to wake up and evacuate past their bedtime.

Burton added, “We got extremely lucky, there’s no doubt about it. Thankfully, it wasn’t a catastrophic fire – [it] never really penetrated the hotel. No hotel rooms were impacted, [and] repairs have not impacted visitation.”

Since 1977, Timberline Lodge has held a coveted position as a National Historic Landmark. During peak season, the mountain resort employs 500 Mt. Hood locals. Nearly 2 million visitors flock to the area every year for its unbeatable vistas, excellent skiing, and world-class hospitality. The hotel is so unique that it served as the exterior for Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of “The Shining.”

The resort’s classification as a National Historic Landmark is

a double-edged sword when damage occurs.

As Burton explained in an email, “Timberline Lodge requires curated and specific repair and maintenance protocols, making costs very expensive.”

Before the rebuild could begin, the damaged site needed to be prepped. That meant extensive water mitigation. To save the Mt. Hood icon during the fire, firefighters poured gallon after gallon of water onto the Lodge. The building was saved, but damage had been done.

Removing the water and getting the Lodge ready for repair took 72 hours of consistent mitigation. Once the site was prepped, specific considerations needed to be taken into account. To maintain the Lodge’s iconic facade, only specific materials could be used in the rebuild. Burton explains, “It’s not like you can just go to Home Depot and buy a sheet of plywood.”

Burton freely admits there was a challenge in “finding the appropriate cedar shakes and patching up the roof.” This process ate up most of the reconstruction efforts. In

addition to restoring the Lodge roof to its former glory, a distinct effort was made to minimize the odds of a similar event occurring. To help reduce the odds of a repeat incident, the Lodge is staying on top of its chimney sweeping schedule and using only clean-burning wood in the fireplace. Burton also explained that the Hoodland Fire Department has been “very involved” with the repair efforts to ensure the odds of another fire remain minute.

In spite of the minor setback, Timberline Lodge hasn’t skipped a beat. They’ve continued to host guests and hold events as planned.

Construction was completed in time for the Lodge to host the annual Daydream fundraiser for OHSU’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Live Music, craft beer from Mt. Hood Brewing Company, and family-friendly activities were the order of the day on September 2, as the OHSU facility and Timberline Lodge teamed up to provide care for children in need. In 2023, the event raised more than $200,000.

Long live the iconic Timberline Lodge!

Spook Alley Returns for Halloween

SPOOK ALLEY

“I have been in charge of Spook Alley since the mid 1970s and I really enjoy doing it for the kids. It’s just a lot of fun,” Dueber said.

With the construction of the Thriftway plaza in the early 1960s, Spook Alley has become a staple to families and kids growing up in the Mt. Hood Villages. More than a trick-ortreat, typical Halloween event, Spook Alley is an opportunity for kids and teenagers to gather in a safe environment and showcase their creative and unique costumes.

“Of course there’s candy and treats, but Spook Alley is more like a Halloween carnival,” Dueber said.

up a golf game and a fishing booth where the little ones can scoop up ducks. There’s also the ‘ghost roll’ game and the ring toss that the Hoodland Fire Department sets up,” Dueber added.

“We try to involve everybody,” Dueber said. “The more people I can get involved, the happier I am,” Dueber added.

By Amber Ford

The Mountain Times Back in action for another Halloween season, Spook Alley is gearing up to be a fun-filled family event for kids of all ages. Long time Spook Alley host and organizer, Shirley Dueber, is excited and filled with anticipation over another opportunity to help host this most sought after community event.

Candy is the staple of any Halloween event, and Spook Alley offers those sweet treats and much more. According to Dueber there are many games and activities that help make the yearly event special and a community favorite.

“The games are a big part of Spook Alley,” Dueber said. “We set

While Dueber has been overseeing much of the planning and organizing of Spook Alley, there are several businesses and organizations throughout the community who offer their time and support each year. The Mt. Hood Lions Club, Hoodland Women’s Club, Hoodland Fire Department, Hoodland Thriftway, Welches Liquor Store, Neighborhood Missions and Clackamas County Bank are just some of the supporters of Spook Alley. The merchants at the Hoodland Shopping Center are a huge help as well. According to Dueber, these local businesses not only offer donations of candy and decorations, but they also donate their time to help keep this Halloween event a tradition.

Along with the carnival-style games and sweet treats, Spook Alley also hosts a costume contest for kids of all ages. Prizes include grab bags and a large array of candy. While there are many things for the community to look forward to when it comes to Spook Alley, Dueber acknowledges some of the challenges the event has faced over the years.

From typical October, Mt. Hood rainy weather to the pandemic, Spook Alley has yet to cancel since it first began.

“There were a few years it was very challenging to pull off, but it will never be canceled,” Dueber said. “During COVID we had booths set up so families could drive up, play a few games and get their candy,” Dueber added.

When asked what her favorite thing about

Meet the Artist: Local Baker Molly O’Regan

By Amber Ford

The Mountain Times

While art comes in many forms, one of the most tasty and unique forms of art can come in the form of baking, and local baker Molly O’Regan has not only become fascinated by this art form, but has become one of the most sought after bakers in the Mt. Hood Villages. O’Regan began baking using her own sourdough starter six years ago and has never looked back. Known for her breads, bagels and other baked goods, O’Regan began selling her work at local farmers markets and is now one of the most popular local vendors.

Known for her classic sourdough loves, O’Regan’s artwork in the form of baking has become her passion and staple in the community. “Classic sourdough loaves, or boules, are kind of my classic go to, but my sourdough bagels are probably the family favorite at home,” O’Regan said. Using the internet as her classroom and following the art through other at-home bakers, O’Regan honed her skills through the visual teachings of other baking artists. “I began watching videos/ Instagram accounts and always thought it looked fun,” O’Regan said. “Eventually I watched a really

clear tutorial video on how to get started so I decided to give it a go and make my own starter. I made bread for me and my family to begin with and slowly expanded what I could make with my starter,” O’Regan added.

A resident of the Mt. Hood Villages for 34 years, O’Regan has made a name for herself and her baking within the community. The process for her baked good sales at local farmer’s markets begins days in advance and the process itself can be in-depth but highly rewarding. “I begin feeding my starter on Tuesday night and try to build up a large supply,” O’Regan said. “Wednesdays are usually supply day and I can knock out some sourdough crackers and a couple sandwich loaves. I begin 12 classic loaves in the evening that are baked Thursday evening. Thursday I start the next 12 that will be baked Friday evening. Thursdays I also prepare the dough for baguettes, English muffins, and more sandwich loaves. Friday I bake off almost everything, including pretzels and muffins, except the bagels which ferment overnight and I boil and bake them first

thing before the market on Saturday,” O’Regan added.

Using positive customer feedback as her fuel and the happiness baking brings her as her motivation, O’Regan has found baking to be an

being the ‘Halloween Queen’ of the Mt. Hood Villages, Dueber kept it simple: the kids and the community. “Seeing all of the kids in their costumes and also when the teenagers started coming back, those are always great memories and the reason why I still do it,” Dueber said.

Bittersweet – Shirley Dueber has decided to pass the torch of managing this holiday event to the next generation. After nearly 50 years of running Spook Alley, she has amassed a lifetime of wonderful memories.

Spook Alley will be held on October 31 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Thriftway plaza. Costume contests kick off at 6:45 p.m. with age groups 0-3, 7 p.m. with age groups 4-7, 7:15 p.m. with age groups 8-12, 7:30 p.m. with age groups 13+, and ending with a final contest with the winners of each age group vying for the Spook Alley costume contest winner.

added bonus to her life on the mountain. “I love seeing customers/community members each week, coming back for more,”

O’Regan said. “They make it well known that I am missed when I have taken a weekend off from the market,” O’Regan added. O’Regan’s baked goods are sold exclusively at The Hoodland Farmer’s Market. Located in The Church on the Mountain’s parking lot every Saturday until October, 10am2pm.

CONGRATS TO THE WINNERS OF THE 1ST ANNUAL WELCHES OPEN!

We raised $11,000 for the Lions Club Disaster Relief fund! A special thanks to Pacific Office Automation, US Foods, Charlie’s Produce and all the other companies who donated prizes and food or drink. We look forward to the 2nd Annual Welches Open next year!

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS.

Welches Liquor THE DOOR WORKS CO.

Local Liability

The Woodsman: Big Bad Wildfires and Beautiful Bad Beetles

By Steve Wilent For The Mountain Times

As I write this on a cool, cloudy Labor Day, another few days of hot weather are in the offing, according to the US Weather Service. We’ve had numerous days this summer in our area with temperatures of 90 degrees or more. Hot, dry weather means wildfire danger will be high, as it has been so often this year, and not just in Clackamas County. On August 29, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek noted that nearly 5,000 firefighters were battling large fires across the state, down from a high of more than 10,000 this season.

“To date, across Oregon, 1.5 million acres have burned. Our ten-year average for an entire fire season is 640,000 acres burned,” said Kotek in a press release. “All this before we enter a dangerous time of fire season, where east winds are typically upon us in August and

September. Every single one of us, from the federal and state leaders beside me to fellow Oregonians across the state continue to have a role to play to prevent the very real threat of fire that still lies ahead.”

As you no doubt recall, warm and dry east winds on Labor Day 2020 whipped across the state, with gusts up to 50 to 60 miles per hour. According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, peak gusts of more than 100 miles per hour were recorded at Timberline Lodge. The five megafires — wildfires of 100,000 acres or more — that started that month burned nearly 850,000 acres of forests, destroyed more than 4,000 homes, and led to the deaths of 11 people.

It is likely that fire danger will decrease dramatically by the time you receive this edition of The Mountain Times, but east winds and dry weather can occur in October or at any time of the year. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, there’s no better time to prepare for the inevitable wildfire in our area. See my August 2024 article about AntFarm Youth Services’ Community Wildfire Defense Program. Consider signing up for a free home assessment. For many

homeowners, AntFarm offers free fuels reduction on your property.

If you are serious about preparing your property and your neighborhood for wildfire, I encourage you to join the Mt. Hood Corridor Partnership, which is “a collection of Federal, State, and County agencies along with permitted ski areas, infrastructure partners, Community Planning Organizations (CPOs) and Homeowner Associations (HOAs) that live, work and play in the Mt. Hood Corridor who want to be better prepared, more resilient, informed and organized when a wildfire incident occurs in this area.”

The partnership holds monthly meetings open to anyone. This month, it’s on Wednesday, October 9 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hoodland Fire District station at 69634 US Highway 26 in Welches. Earlier that same day, the partnerships’ CPO/HOA Workgroup meets from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information and information on attending the meetings via Zoom, see www. mthoodwildfirepartnership.org.

BAD BEETLES AIM AT OREGON ASH

The emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive wood-boring beetle from

Mt. Hood Golf News

By Bradford Bixby

For The Mountain Times

Welcome back, Dear Reader, to another edition of Fore, the column that embraces all golf and golfers at the foot of Mt. Hood. I just marshaled the Lions Club charity tournament played almost exclusively by local golfers. It was great to see our community coming together and having fun. Local restaurants sponsored two food and beverage stations, one with Mac and Cheese and pulled pork sliders and the other with Nathan’s hot dogs and a lovely frothy amber beverage. The Tito’s rep had a station set up by

the patio. On top of all that, they had a musician for the post-tournament festivities. My congratulations to Dave Anderson and all the Lions Club members for putting on a fabulous event. I guarantee I will be playing next year although I must say as a marshall I ate and drank like a king. And like any good officer of the law I started with a couple of Joe’s donuts. What a great day. This event reminded me of a tournament I played in Seattle. One of the biggest distributors in the city invited teams from all the top restaurants to his private coun-

Asia, was first detected in North America in 2002 in southeast Michigan. Since then it has spread to 36 states and the District of Columbia, including, as of 2022, Oregon.

EAB may be a beautiful insect, but it is responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees in North America. The beetle lays its eggs in the bark crevices of ash trees; when the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the tree where they feed on the inner bark, killing the tree.

The beetle is spread when people move EAB-infested ash firewood, logs, or nursery stock. The US Department of Agriculture’s Plant Health and Inspection Service recently announced that the beetles are now present in Clackamas, Marion, and Yamhill counties and are a potent threat to the native Oregon ash trees as well as ash species imported from other regions that are valued as street and landscape trees in cities and towns.

Oregon ash is found from northern Washington to southern California, including in the western Cascade Range; it grows in western Clackamas County but is more common in the Willamette Valley.

Until recently, most

wooden baseball bats were made from ash. With ash wood increasingly rare, however, many bats are now made from maple or birch, and I’ve read that bats made of beech wood may soon make plate appearances in baseball games.

On a Personal NoteAs of August 12, I’ve been working for AntFarm Youth Services as its Public Lands Program Manager. I oversee crews that maintain trails and campgrounds for the Bureau of Land Management and the US Forest Service. I admire AntFarm’s focus on working with young people and its overall mission: “AntFarm’s vision is to see all people healthy, live with purpose, and

contribute to community well being. Our mission is to create and connect a healthy, purposeful, and compassionate community by providing culturally aware and responsive life-changing learning experiences for youth and families.” (see antfarmyouthservices. com).

(For what it’s worth, when I wrote my August 2024 column about AntFarm’s Community Wildfire Defense Program, I had no idea I’d end up working for AntFarm. Which is why I may mention AntFarm in future articles, just FYI.) Have a question about EAB or Oregon ash? Would vine maple make a good baseball bat? Let me know. Email: SWilent@ gmail.com.

try club where he put on the dog for us. I was a member of The Metropolitan Grill team. On our first hole they had a barbecue set up and we had salmon and Chardonnay. Sweet! The next hole had the Goldschlager girls – we had shots with them. Surprisingly they joined us! On the first par 3 there was a woman with a bunch of bottles of wine on a table. She said anyone who hits the green gets a bottle. I hit first and missed the green by ten feet. She squinted toward the hole and asked if I hit the green. I said “Uh yeah it’s about fifteen feet from the pin.” With a big smile she handed me a bottle. Nice! Amazingly, everyone in my foursome hit the green and walked with a bottle. The topper for the event was during the awards ceremony when the double doors were kicked open and two guys burst in, one on each arm of the totally wasted Goldschager girl. Her toes

were literally dragging. Epic!

In club news, the men crowned their match play champion Ron Wood for the sixth time after he defeated Norberto Reyes. I will report on the other bracket winners when they have all finished their matches. Lastly, the Labor Day event was won by an exceptional team that played above their heads while ham-and-egging their way to victory. The team members were Augie Fiore, Vivian Fiore, Cathy Gulledge and yours truly. You can guess who was ham was and who the eggs were!

Well, that’s all I have room for this month except to remind you that right now as the season winds down is the perfect time to come on out and play a round. And when you do remember to “Hit ‘Em Straight.”

The invasive emerald ash borer was recently found in Clackamas, Marion, and Yamhill counties. Photo Leah Bauer, US Forest Service.

Men’s champion Ron Wood. Photo by Bradford Bixby.

Mountain Times Events

EVENTS

Events & Activities Calendar

Rosh Hashanah

Kippur Eve

Kippur

Sukkot Eve Sukkot

Shimini Atzeret Eve Shimini Atzeret Rosh Hashanah Hashanah Eve

*Denotes that the date changes each

**Please call Wraptitude for more information at

***$5 Entry and please call 503.481.5216 or 503.668.3378 for more information

^Please call Al Forno Ferruzza for more information at

^^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

A Masterpiece in Biodiversity

By Robert Matsumura

The Mountain Times

Rising majestically in the heart of the Cascade Range is Mount Hood, a paragon of natural beauty and biodiversity. From its snowy peaks to its verdant valleys, the mountain is a haven for a stunning array of flora and fauna. Beyond the visual beauty of the mountain, however, is a complex ecosystem of interconnected parts that function together like a well-oiled machine.

A TIMELESS LANDSCAPE

Standing proudly at 11,250 feet, Mt. Hood, a stratovolcano, isn’t strictly a geographical landmark — it’s a living ecosystem formed by a combination of volcanic activity, glaciers, and the unique climate of the Pacific Northwest. Over the millennia, this dynamic environment has sustained an astonishing variety of plant and animal species that have adapted to its ever-changing terrain.

The Verdant Splendor of the Subalpine Zone

The foundation of Mt. Hood’s diverse plant life is its geologic composition. Over the years the mountain’s volcanic origins have generated a complex tapestry of soils. The lower elevations — known as the subalpine zone — is composed of loamy soil, enriched by nutrients from volcanic ash and lava flows. This

fertile soil forms an ideal base for the dense forests of Douglas fir, western hemlock and red cedar we associate with this zone. Trees of this type thrive in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil and provide a lush environment for a myriad of undergrowth and wildlife that flourish beneath their lofty boughs.

EXPLORING THE SUBALPINE

ZONE

Should you wish to explore Mount Hood’s lush lower elevations, the Mirror Lake Trail is a relatively easy hike through old-growth forest, with opportunities to see Black-tailed and Mule deer and a plethora of bird species including Clark’s Nutcracker, Mountain Bluebird, and Rock Wren. Another option is the Trillium Lake Trail. Flat, family-friendly and picturesque, this path around Trillium Lake affords stunning views of Mount Hood, and, when in bloom, vibrant wildflowers. Commencing at Timberline Lodge, the Zig Zag Mountain Trail also provides another leisurely option as it ascends through subalpine meadows with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

Alpine Splendor

Ascending higher up the mountain, the soil changes to glacial till— deposits of rock and debris left behind by ancient glaciers. Harsh and unforgiving, this rugged landscape supports a

minimal amount of plant life — plants that are remarkably resilient and adapted to this challenging terrain. Species such as alpine forget-me-not and mountain heather are examples of plants that have evolved to withstand the extreme temperatures and high winds found at this level. Hikers seeking to experience this alpine environment can explore the Paradise Park Trail, which promises striking vistas of Mount Hood, and alpine wildflowers..

DENIZENS OF THE ALPINE ZONE

Above the treeline, where the air grows thin, creatures specially adapted to the alpine tundra reside. There one might encounter a majestic golden eagle soaring effortlessly on thermal updrafts, its keen eyes scanning for prey far below. Meanwhile, the American pika, a tiny relative of the rabbit, is often found foraging among rocks and vegetation, storing up food for the long winter ahead.

LIFE BENEATH THE SURFACE

A significant portion of Mount Hood’s biodiversity is invisible to the naked eye. Below ground, an intricate network of life supports the mountain’s diverse ecosystems. A key player in this subterranean world is mycorrhizal fungi. These fungi form symbiotic relationships with the roots of plants, forging a complex network of connections in the soil. Known as the “wood wide web,” this network is critical for plants, enabling nutrient uptake of essential minerals and water.

Amazingly, this underground collaboration extends beyond individual plants themselves. Mycorrhizal networks connect trees and plants across vast areas, facil-

itating the exchange of nutrients and information. For instance, if one part of a forest experiences drought, mycorrhizal fungi can help redistribute water and nutrients from areas with more resources. This system supports the entire ecosystem, enabling plants to survive in the challenging conditions of Mount Hood’s various elevation zones.

Beyond the Mycorrhizal networks, the mountain soil itself is home to a variety of other organisms, including insects, earthworms, and small mammals. These creatures play a critical role in maintaining soil health and structure. Earthworms, for example, aerate the soil, which improves drainage and nutrient availability for plants. Insects like beetles and ants help break down organic matter, thus recycling nutrients back into the soil.

The volcanic composition of Mount Hood’s soil, enriched by ash and lava flows, provides a unique environment for these subterranean systems. While these soils are often rich in minerals, they can also be acidic and less fertile in certain areas. As a result, plants and fungi must adapt to these conditions, forming specialized relationships and strategies to survive.

In truth, this invisible world beneath the forest floor is equally as vital to the health of Mount Hood’s ecosystems as the visible flora and fauna at the surface. By supporting the growth and health of plants, these subterranean systems ensure that the mountain remains a vibrant and resilient environment capable of sustaining a diverse range of life.

Paradise Park near Mt. Hood.

Museum Chatter: Defining Mount Hood Heritage

By Lloyd Musser

For The Mountain Times

Plan now to attend the Museum’s annual Heritage Night on November 2. This fun event marks the beginning of winter activities on Mount Hood.

The event is an opportunity to socialize with old and new friends, enjoy heavy hors d’ oeuvres, libations (donated by local restaurants and businesses) and partake in silent and live auctions. Your Museum membership is your ticket to this event. Memberships are available online or at the door. Now is the time to donate items to the museum for this annual fundraiser. If you have items to donate for the auction, please call the Museum (503 272 3301) and arrange the donation. There is something for everyone and for every price range in the Heritage Night auctions. Cabin décor items and

collectibles are popular. Theme gift baskets and gift certificates for local businesses make nice holiday gifts. This auction is a good source of artwork by local artists. Recreation passes and sports game tickets are always available. Attendees should be prepared to bid on vacation packages, guided outdoor adventure trips, vintage ski lift chairs and other unique items only available at the annual Heritage Night at the Museum auction.

As we plan to celebrate Heritage Night on November 2, 2024, this is a good time to take inventory of just what Mount Hood’s heritage means. Heritage: something that passes from one generation to the next in a social group. The social group could be a family or a group based on ethnicity, race, gender, occupation or profession, or a geographical area

such as a county, region, state or community. The heritage can consist of objects, customs, traditions or knowledge. Heritage objects tend to be passed within a family or small social group. Larger groups, such as communities, tend to focus on traditions and the economic reason for the community’s existence.

Mount Hood’s heritage by this definition would include a wide range of people, groups, clubs and activities. The lure of Mount Hood as a place to recreate began soon after the Oregon Trail immigrants arrived. Having struggled to pass over the Barlow Road on their way to settle in the Willamette Valley, they soon returned to hunt wild game, fish, hike and even climb Mt. Hood for recreation. Each passing decade and generation develops new activities, many of which survive the fad stage and become

long standing traditions. Some traditions involve large numbers of people, while others are family traditions. The Portland practice of driving visitors around the Mount Hood Loop Highway may be a family tradition practiced by many families.

The Mazamas mountain climbing club held their charter climb of Mt. Hood in 1894.Trail hiking for recreation was the impetus for formation of the Trails Club of Oregon in 1915. Snow skiing started in the early 1900s on the north and south sides of Mt. Hood. The Snowshoe Club experimented with skis on an outing to Cloud Cap in 1904, and soon skiers were climbing up and skiing down slopes all over Mount Hood. Norwegian immigrants discovered Mount Hood in the mid 1920s and were soon holding jumping events that drew thousands of spectators to watch these daring skiers try to fly. The advent of the developed ski areas as we know them today can be attributed to a lost skier who never was found. The searchers later advocated developing winter playgrounds, to prevent wandering skiers from getting lost. Summit Ski area at the east end of Government Camp became that first developed ski area in 1927. The advent of ski areas created the need for ski lodges and the many traditions associated with these social centers. As downhill skiing really started to pick up speed - literally and physically, the need to care for

injured skiers triggered the formation of the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol in 1937. All of the clubs mentioned are still active today. It is quite evident outdoor recreation, in its various forms, is Mount Hood’s heritage. The traditions these early outdoor recreationists started and carried on for decades

must be celebrated and passed on. The Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum and their Heritage Night is dedicated to this purpose. Please join the community in this celebration.

Lloyd Musser is the volunteer curator at the Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum.

Welches Parent Teacher Community Organization

By Cassie Kanable, WTPCO

For The Mountain Times

PARENT TEACHER CORNER

As the new school year kicks off, there’s excitement in the air! Students have embraced the first few weeks back, sharing smiles on picture day and putting their best foot forward at the highly anticipated Welches School Rainbow Run. Our colorful jog-a-thon had every class proudly wearing their class colors, running with enthusiasm to raise funds for Welches Schools. Prior year’s funds have gone toward the Right Brain Initia-

tive, teacher supplies for classrooms, student incentives for positive behavior, and school facility projects such as water stations and new mats for the Middle School gym. With fall in full swing, the WPTCO is gearing up for another exciting Harvest Festival to welcome the season! We’re also busy behind the scenes organizing community events, movie nights, and preparing for our spring auction fundraiser. This year, we’re aiming high with our fundraising goals, and we can’t do it without the amazing support of our mountain community! Here are a few important

dates for our families and community members to keep in mind for October:

Wednesday 10/15

WPTCO Community Meeting: We’d love to see you at our next community meeting on Tuesday, October 15th, at 4:30 PM in the Elementary School Library! This year, we’re offering childcare during our meetings to make it easier for all families to join us. Whether you’ve been before or are joining us for the first time, everyone is welcome!

Friday 10/18

Welches PTCO Movie Night is back! Join us for a screening of “Encanto” on Friday

Oct. 18th in the Welches Elementary Multipurpose Room to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month! Doors open at 5:00 PM, movie starts at 6:00 PM. Bring chairs, floor pillows or blankets. $1 per person, concessions available for purchase. ALL CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.

Friday 10/25

Welches Harvest Festival: The WPTCO is excited to once again host this year’s Harvest Festival, a fun-filled fall carnival where kids can wear their costumes and enjoy games, craft stations, and seasonal activities

at school! Currently, the WPTCO is looking for parents, guardians, and community volunteers to fill out volunteer applications/background checks and attend a volunteer orientation at the school prior to the Harvest Festival toward the end of October! Background checks take time so make sure to fill out your application as soon as possible. For more details and to access the application, scan the QR code at the end of 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 any questions or would like to get involved, please reach out to us at info@welchesptco.org.

Members of the Portland Ski Club enjoy skiing at Government Camp in 1910.

By Dr. Robert Kelly, D.M.D.

General Dentist, McKenzie Dental

I saw in the news this week that 2 NASA astronauts in space will be hanging out quite a bit longer in the international space station than originally planned. They went up in the Boeing Starliner with plans to return in eight days. Due to problems with the test flight of the Starliner they will not be return-

The Whole Tooth: Cosmic Cavities

ing on it but will have to wait eight months, returning on the Space X ship instead. Hopefully the two astronauts get along well with each other or that is a long eight months!

This coincides with research that has been ongoing by a group at the Dental College in India, led by Jumana Hasin Abdul Samathu. They are studying dental care protocols and researching technology to help astronauts take better care of their oral health. Being in space presents astronauts with unique health problems. Among them, the reduced gravity in space can significantly alter bodily functions, including fluid distribution in the body, muscles

and bone structure, and immune responses. All of these things can affect oral health.

For the two common dental problems we have on earth, cavities and periodontal disease, it has been shown that astronauts are even more susceptible to both. The altered bacterial environment along with the reduction of protective saliva output in space can increase human risk of developing dental problems. Being in space can lead to noticeable changes in the mouth like “dry mouth,” which presents higher risks for dental problems. We know this based on the history of astronauts’ time in space.

The lower gravity environment also leads

to more virulent bacteria and more antibiotic resistance as well as reducing human’s oral immunity, making astronauts more prone to infection.

Another impact in space is that changes in gravity and temperature can affect dental restorations like fillings and crowns. As pressure fluctuations occur in space, this can affect the durability of fillings as well as increasing the chance of them coming loose and falling out.

The researchers’ goal is to not only improve the protection of astronauts from dental problems but also to drive further innovations in dental science that could benefit all of us on earth.

This is not far-fetched thinking at all, as

there have been many advances in our world that have initially come from technology affiliated with space travel. Some examples of those innovations are the cameras in our phones, scratch resistant glass lenses, LED lighting, water purification systems, ear thermometers, memory foam, freeze dried food, baby formula, porta -

ble laptop computers, a computer mouse and even the athletic shoes Nike Air! That’s a lot of innovation that started from space travel technology.

As you can see this ongoing research can surprise us with benefits. What seems like a small step at the time could be a giant leap later!

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 for the community to have a voice back to the County. HCPO is interested in hearing from any individual or business to address concerns, issues, or to ask a question or two.

The Hoodland CPO speaker at our October 17th meeting will be a representative from the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (ODFR). As one of their missions, this office assists and advocates for those having difficulty with home or office insurance coverage, insurance companies, or any related issue. We have worked with this organization at several events related to

wildfire issues and wildfire hazard in particular. We hope you’ll join us to get the assistance and facts you need to plan for your future.

The Mt. Hood Corridor Wildfire Partnership will be holding another debris collection, most likely in October or early November. Please trim excess fuels on your property and have them ready for quick and free disposal. The May collec-

tion was wildly successful. Notice will go out via email, social media and the many information boards at post offices and businesses locally.

In conjunction with the Wildfire Partnership, the Ant Farm in Sandy is providing FREE tree removal for any property with a “High” hazard map rating from the Oregon Department of Forestry. Please contact Michelle Richardson micheller@ antfarmyouthservices. com

As of this date we have not received further information from the County regarding a change to Temporary Dwelling

for RVs. The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) approved the zoning change that would allow ADUs and RVs as permanent dwellings. Like other CPOs in the Mt. Hood Corridor, we welcome ADUs, but RVs as permanent dwellings had a majority of the HCPO membership object.

We are tentatively planning to hear from the County Engineering Department on the early design for the bike/walk trail along Welches Road. Stay tuned for more details. The Superintendent of Schools is planning to speak at a meeting

next Spring. Please consider offering your time and talent to the Hoodland Community Planning Organization as a volunteer. We need help in posting flyers and information around the community, in set-up and tear-down at community meetings and through receipt of information on events we could attend.

Should you have interest in volunteering, questions on fuels reduction, questions about permit applications or any general questions, please contact us at hoodlandcpo@gmail.com.

“It Takes a Village.”

Well Adjusted: Bundling Up for Good Health Health

By Dr. Melanie Brown Chiropractic Physician, Mountain Life Clinic

As fall rolls in, cozy fires and pumpkin spice may be on our minds — let’s also think about the crucial role we play in supporting our bodies during the changing season to prevent pain and illness! Immune support becomes more critical with the backto-school germ pool and the changing seasons, which put extra strain on our bodies as they adapt to the weather change. The cold affects joints and muscles, leading to shivering, poor posture, and, in turn, pain.

There are many

ways to boost your immune system and support your joints and muscles, from exercising and practicing good ergonomics, such as maintaining a neutral posture while sitting and standing and using a supportive pillow at night, to taking elderberry syrup or fire cider to maintaining a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, enough water, and, of course, getting enough sleep. However, one often overlooked way to support your muscles, joints, and immune system is to bundle up — especially by covering your neck. In Chinese medicine, covering your neck is more than a matter of warmth. It’s about protecting a key body area, the ‘Wind Gate,’ from external elements that can weaken your immunity. The ‘Wind Gate’ is the back of the neck, considered vulnerable to wind and cold,

which are believed to introduce illness into the body. By simply wearing a scarf or high collar when you go outside, you’re shielding this sensitive area, preventing the cold from affecting your internal balance. I guess it turns out our moms were right all along - bundling up CAN keep us healthy! Thanks, Mom!

Shivering can also wreak havoc on our muscles and joints, leading to pain and tension in the neck and shoulders. Growing up in North Dakota, I learned this lesson firsthand. Winters were brutal, and my chiropractor always reminded me to wear a scarf after leaving my appointment. He’d say, “You don’t want to undo all the good work we just did!” He was right. Shivering makes our muscles tense, and we end up hunched with our shoulders practically touching our ears.

That misalignment of our body creates muscle tension and pain in the neck, spine, and ribs. But wearing a warm scarf, sweater, or a heated vest can help you stay relaxed and protect your body’s energy from being drained by the

cold. It’s easy to rush out the door without thinking, but a little preparation goes a long way in keeping your body in balance.

So as you and your neighbors gather firewood and prepare to keep your homes cozy

for winter, remember that the same care and preparation can be extended to your body. And as the fur of wild animals thickens for the cold, pull out your scarves, cozy sweaters, and warm jackets so you are ready, too!

Discover Hoodland Senior Center’s Abundance of Services

By Brittany Kintigh For The Mountain Times

The Hoodland Senior Center is known for offering Meals on Wheels, Energy Assistance and Wellness Classes, but did you know they offer several other helpful services? Here are some of the lesser-known ways the Center supports our community. Do you need a ride to the bank, post office, or dentist? The Hoodland Senior Center has a few volunteer drivers ready to help. They provide free local rides to seniors; you just need to schedule them in advance. The rides depend on the availabil-

ity of the volunteers, so it’s a good idea to call ahead to book your trip (503-622-3331).

Many seniors have furry friends who need healthy food. Thanks to F.I.D.O. Pet Food Bank, the Senior Center gets free pet food every month. This food is specially chosen for pets based on their breed, age, and size. If you have a pet and need some food, give the Center a call to add your pet to their monthly order. Need a wheelchair, walker, or shower chair?

The Hoodland Senior Center lends out medical equipment for free. This includes items like

canes and toilet seats, too. This service is available to everyone, not just seniors, so feel free to ask if you need any of these items.

Planning a get together? The Senior Center has a conference room you can rent. It’s available during business hours free of charge and after hours. Renting a room after hours costs $25 for the first two hours and $10 for each additional hour. Host your next bridge tournament, knitting group or book club at the Center – call to book your time. You can learn more about the Center’s upcoming activities

by signing up for the monthly newsletter via email at hoodlandseniorsinfo@gmail.com.

The Hoodland Senior Center provides this breadth of services with the support of volunteers and donations from the community. If you have been thinking about volunteering your time, call the Center to learn more and sign up. If you are interested in offering financial support, you can donate securely through PayPal at https://www.hoodlandseniorcenter.org/donate or call the center to schedule a donation by check or cash.

Bundled up at Wildwood Park. Photo by Melanie Brown.

Hoodland Women’s Club Highlights

By Cathy Lavin, HWC

For The Mountain Times

The Hoodland Women’s Club (HWC) raised over $31,000 at its 20th annual golf tournament and associated live auction and raffle on September 15 at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort. Those funds and money raised at other activities throughout the year, along with community donations, enable HWC to meet its goal of supporting a vibrant Hoodland community.

The largest outlay of dollars will go to five scholarships in 2025. Four will go to graduating high school seniors with ties to the Hoodland area and one –new in 2025 – will be awarded to a Hoodland resident for continuing education. While most people think of scholarships being used for studies at a four-year college or university, these scholarships can be used for any type of continuing education, such as training for a

professional license, earning a professional certificate or learning a trade.

In addition to the scholarships, funds are reinvested in the community in a number of ways. These include support for Welches Schools, Spooky Alley, Hoodland holiday baskets, Mt. Hood Unida, Hoodland Senior Center and meeting the physiological needs of individuals to ensure they have life’s basic necessities, including

food, water, shelter and medications.

Another way of giving back to its community is through the HWC’s spring and fall road clean-up. This year’s fall clean up is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15. HWC members start at the intersection of Salmon River Road and Highway 26 and continue for a two-mile stretch along Salmon River Road. They use trash bags, pickers and vests supplied by Clackamas County to collect discarded cans, bottles and other trash. Trash collected has included items as small as cigarette butts and as large as a discarded bed frame.

The road clean up is coordinated by HWC member Anne High, who also hosts a weekly crafting group. Community members and visitors will be able to purchase the results of their craft creativity at a number of locations, including block parties in the parking lot outside of Cooper’s Wine Bar, the Hoodland Farmers’ Market and the holiday craft fair at the Mt. Hood Oregon

SUDOKU

Resort. Those purchases not only result in some great finds, but support the club’s community activities.

Another fundraising activity scheduled for this month is also a great opportunity for community members to show their creativity and socialize with their neighbors. HWC will host a costume Halloween dance at Alpine Events Center on Thursday, October 24 from 7-10 p.m. Check out the Hoodland Women’s Club website or Facebook page for more information, or send an email to board@ hoodlandwomensclub. org.

In addition to community events, HWC hosts membersonly events throughout the year. One of these was a candle making session on September 21st at Luna & Craft in Welches. Members of the community who aren’t yet HWC members are invited to join via the club’s website. Dues are just $25 per year. Those who want more information before joining can also attend one of the club’s monthly meetings. Again, contact board@ hoodlandwomensclub. org for details. The October meeting will feature a speaker from Orchid Health and will be held Monday, October 7 at 11:30 a.m. at Alpine Events Center.

Edited by Margie E. Burke

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.

Each

(Answer appears elsewhere in this issue)

CROSSWORD by Margie E. Burke

SUDOKU by Margie E. Burke

By The Confluence Law Center

For The Mountain Times

Who will look after your affairs when you are gone? Some of my clients know exactly how they want to distribute their assets, but they are uncertain about who to name as the executor of their will or the trustee of their trust. The decision is critical and sensitive. The person you name to handle your affairs must be willing to take on a burdensome task that is a big time commitment. There are also legal responsibilities for doing the job correctly. Your chosen

Hire Your Estate Administration

person could be liable if they don’t observe all the legal requirements of distributing your assets, paying creditors in the right way, and notifying certain parties in the required timeframes. They must act all the while not in their best interest but in the best interest of your estate.

Beyond the legal requirements, you must trust this person with intimate financial and personal relationship information about your life. For some of my clients, their child is the obvious choice. The child has always supported them, is personally responsible, financially stable, and gets along well with other members of the family who have an interest in your estate. For many, however, there is no obvious choice for a person to represent them. If you are in that position, it could be a relief to know that there are professionals whose business

is exactly filling the role of trusted representative for you and your estate.

The job title is “professional fiduciary” and in Oregon, professional fiduciaries must be certified by a national organization. As professionals specializing in estate administration, they are bound to the highest ethical standards. They are dispassionate representatives of your estate’s interests and are extremely well-acquainted with the estate administration process. This can be a calming and/or stabilizing influence on family members who might descend into old feuds if it were a relative handling your estate. They can manage assets while you are still alive as well as handling your estate’s financial affairs after you pass. Depending on the company, they can be hired to be your healthcare agent and potential guardian as well.

These services aren’t just for the wealthy. Professional fiduciary services can be personalized for administering estates of modest means. Often smaller, non-institutional professional fiduciaries will charge an hourly rate that applies only when they are acting on your or your estate’s behalf.

They can be a great choice when family relations are strained or there isn’t a person you feel you can trust. Even with trusted people around, consider hiring a professional to avoid imposing rigorous, time-consuming, and demanding duties of estate administration on family or friends. They may thank you for it.

STORIES FROM THE STARS

Stephen Sondheim, the acclaimed Broadway lyricist and composer, lived a long and fruitful life. Mentored by Oscar Hammerstein II while still in his youth,

Sondheim was the songwriter for “West Side Story” and went on to write and compose many famous musicals including “Sunday in the Park” with George and Sweeney Todd. Stephen Sondheim passed away at the age of 91, the day after Thanksgiving in 2021.

To honor the theater giant, a mass “sing-in” of his songs was held in Times Square, led by Broadway stars.

At the time of his passing, his estate was estimated to be worth around $75M. Unlike many stars I’ve featured in these articles, it appears Mr. Sondheim did almost everything right from an estate planning perspective. He had created a revocable trust during his life. He funded the trust with his significant assets and avoided court litigation. Using his trust, he was able to distribute his wealth to more than twenty different personal and charita -

ble beneficiaries. Beneficiaries included his husband Jeffrey Romley and director James Lapine, with whom he collaborated on “Into the Woods”. The Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, and, fittingly, the Dramatists Guild were among the charities that received gifts from his estate.

An interesting fact about Mr. Sondheim’s estate planning touches on the theme of this article. From his will, which was filed in court after his passing, we know that he appointed a professional, his attorney, to be his estate executor. No doubt Mr. Sondheim’s wealth significantly outstrips ours, but the lessons are equally applicable to humbler estates. Creating and funding a trust and naming a professional to administer it are advisable steps for anyone who is planning to pass assets on after their death, eliminating potential for unnecessary friction.

a ton of experience in IT (I think IT has something to do with sitting on laptops and watching bird videos on tablets, right?) I love to roam around the adoption center supervising everyone, so I’ve been fine-tuning my managerial skills. I have experience working with other cats, and I tolerate them, but I consider my catworkers just casual work acquaintances rather than besties. I’ve never lived with dogs, but when I’ve met calm, gentle dogs, I’ve felt pretty comfortable with them and curious to learn more about them! I will say I’m a little spooked by young children who don’t understand that I’m their boss, so I would work best in a home with children 12 years or older.

I would love to join your home as a new employee, and what better time than spooky season for me to join the household? If you’re interested in having me join your team in time for this Halloween, fill out an application and I’ll be coming to you spayed, microchipped, vaccinated, and ready to sleep... I mean get to work... on the job! Interested in adopting Rosamund? Contact the Pixie Project today! ADOPTION LINE 503-542-3433 MAIN LINE 503-542-3432 info@pixieproject.org | pixieproject.org

ROSAMUND

Critical Need for Updated Facilities at MHCC

By MHCC

For The Mountain Times

Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) has been a source of education and community engagement in the region since it was established in 1966. As the demands on schools evolve, so too must the facilities that support them. With aging infrastructure and changing technological needs, MHCC is at a point where investing in updated facilities will greatly benefit students, faculty, and the broader community. In hopes of addressing these needs, the college plans to place a bond measure on the May 2025 ballot.

Many of MHCC’s buildings and classrooms were constructed decades ago, and while they have served the community well, they no longer meet the demands of modern education. Outdated facilities hinder learning, limit access to new technology, and prevent students from reaching their goals. To continue providing high-quality education, MHCC needs to update its campus infrastructure.

With a proposed bond amount of $131 million, many community members are eager to know how the college would use those funds. To answer that question, MHCC has created a facilities master plan to assess academic needs and facility use. This plan was formed based on information gathered through focus groups led by different areas of the college, including instruction, student success, safety and security, and campus technology.

The biggest takeaway from these focus groups was that updating MHCC’s facilities would create an enhanced learning environment that fosters innovation. Modern classrooms equipped with the latest

technology will provide students with the skills needed in today’s workforce.

“The facilities at MHCC are critical to supporting our mission of providing accessible and affordable education,” Mt. Hood Community College President Dr. Lisa Skari said. “By investing in our infrastructure, we are investing in the future success of our students and our community.”

Campus safety was another common concern discussed throughout the focus groups. As MHCC returns to regular campus life following the pandemic, maintaining extended hours of operation puts stress on the physical campus systems as well as its digital operations. By improving building access control, indoor and outdoor lighting, door locking systems, and mass notification systems, MHCC can ensure a safer place for its students and employees.

Accessibility was also discussed by the focus

groups. To improve access to the campus, MHCC plans to add more elevators and replace outdated ones, create new single-person bathrooms and lactation rooms, and make needed updates to athletic areas including locker rooms and the softball field.

Updating MHCC’s facilities will have a ripple effect throughout the community. Improved educational resources attract businesses and industries seeking a well-educated workforce, contributing to economic growth in the region. And an updated campus can serve as a hub for community events, workshops, and continuing education programs.

For more information on how you can support MHCC’s facility updates, please visit MHCC’s bond website. If you want to give input on the bond or reach out to see how you can help support MHCC, please email Bond@ MHCC.edu

Outdoors

The Viewfinder: Discovering Hidden Landscapes in Oregon

By Gary Randall For The Mountain Times

When was the last time that you just decided to forget it all and just go for a drive? When I was a boy, I remember frequently getting in the car with my family and just heading out on the weekend for a day of discovery with no destination in mind.

The night before my mom would make chicken and some potato salad and we’d have a meal for the day of exploration. I

BIODIVERSITY

From Page 18 CONSERVATION

Although Mount Hood remains a bastion of natural diversity, the modern world presents new challenges. Climate change threatens to alter the delicate balance of ecosystems, affecting everything from snowpack levels crucial for water supply to the growth cycle of plants and animal migrations.

still love cold chicken and potato salad. We had an old metal one gallon thermos that mom would fill with Kool Aid. I’m sure that we didn’t need a whole lot more.

Our drives were a favorite time for us as a family. They were full of adventure and discovery. We found so many beautiful places on those trips that we would never have seen or heard of if we hadn’t just loaded up in the car and took off to wander around in less

wandered areas.

Here on The Mountain, we’re at a unique launching point for adventure. We can drive in most any direction and find beautiful countryside with unique places to stop and view or explore but my favorite direction is east. I’m a huge fan of Central and Eastern Oregon. There’s a lot to explore in the vast areas east of us.

I often tell other landscape photographers or explorers of our state that Oregon has almost

everything that nature can provide, especially scenery. Oregon has ocean beaches, hills and valleys, creek and waterfall-filled rain forests, rugged glacial peaks and low-lying deserts such as the mud cracked Alvord Desert. We even have a canyon that’s deeper than the Grand Canyon. Hells Canyon, when measured from the Seven Devils Peaks to the Snake River, is almost 2000 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon. We live in an incredible

place.

One of my favorite things to do while wandering around is to discover unique roadside geology. With Instagram being so popular, many of the most unique places have been discovered but every now and then I find something that excites me. My wife Darlene and I took a trip that took us up the road between Mitchell and Spray. It’s not a part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument but it’s close

enough to have some of the same unique geology that makes it such a unique and special place.

On this trip we discovered rock formations and ancient blue colored soil strata laid bare from erosion. I photographed it and then, after I returned home, did a little bit of research about this beautiful place. I found that it’s called The Blue Banks. I’m very familiar with the amazing red hued colors of The Painted Hills not far away, but this was a beautiful seafoam green color. It appears to be on private land, so there’s no access to it, but there’s a great view from the road. It is only one place out of so many just waiting to be discovered through wandering our rural roads.

It never really fails that, when I’m on a drive, I discover something new. It’s really no wonder that I enjoy leaving everything behind, including my responsibilities and the stress of living, to simply take a drive through the backroads of our beautiful state. For me it’s a family tradition that has expanded my awareness of the beauty of nature and what Oregon has to offer. I still enjoy packing a lunch, especially cold chicken and potato salad, and hitting the road –and I probably always will.

Conservation efforts, such as sustainable land management and habitat restoration, are crucial for preserving this natural treasure for generations to come.

Mount Hood’s biodiversity is not just a testament to the resilience of nature — it’s a reminder of the mindfulness required to safeguard this natural wonder that provides not

only majestic views that define our region, but also the abundant recreational opportunities enjoyed by so many. So, the next time you find yourself gazing at Oregon’s iconic peak, spare a thought for the intricate web of life that surrounds it. Mount Hood is more than just a mountain, it’s a living, breathing masterpiece of nature, which, like an old friend, is always there to lift our spirits and provide a haven from the stressful demands of daily life.

Mt. Hood National Forest.

Outdoors

The Angle: Fishing in the PNW Rain

By Lucas Holmgren

The Mountain Times

When traveling in other parts of the country, often the first thing people say when they hear I’m from the Northwest is: “It rains a lot there doesn’t it?”

Maybe growing up in the Lower Columbia River Valley my whole life I just don’t know any different, but they aren’t wrong either.

Staying inside during the long “rainy season” may be cozy, but getting out into the

beautiful landscapes of Oregon and Washington is worth putting the rain coat on. I have an app on my phone for weather and one that measures river levels. In late Fall, when B-Run Coho Salmon are thick, rain freshets can send a blast of fresh salmon into the rivers. In wintertime, searching for steelhead, river levels can dramatically change in short time periods. To continually have a chance at fish, anglers must adapt.

HOW RAIN AFFECTS FISHING

Many times I’ve been asked “Does the rain make the fish bite?” Well, yes and no. Rain can be a help or a hindrance for the day’s bite, but fish DO like water.

Near the end of Summer when rivers are at their lowest, rain can move salmon from tidewater upstream. Too much rain can wash tons of sediment and leaves into the water which makes fishing

nearly impossible for a time. Within a few days, it could be very productive salmon or steelhead fishing.

Most of the time a rising river is not good for fishing, but the right “travel lane” can sometimes be phenomenal, as salmon often use rising levels to migrate farther upriver. You don’t know if you don’t go.

The ideal “rainy conditions” are usually a few days after significant rain, when the rivers have settled in and are on a slow “drop” in levels. Light rain can keep water temperatures stable or slowly dropping in the fall, which is helpful if the water is warm. During wintertime, rain can actually warm up a cold river, which can be helpful in getting fish to bite.

The general rule is that drastic changes in conditions can alert fish, and take their attention away from feeding. Small changes and stable conditions are often the best time to fish. Perhaps it’s been raining for several days but the river levels are on a slow drop: this

Community Events

would be a great time to go salmon, trout or steelhead fishing. Maybe it’s been a hot day and in the evening a short heavy rain drops temperatures slightly; these “events” can be the trigger that makes for an incredible day of fishing. Paying attention to weather and noticing patterns is a major factor in catching more fish!

Free Dental Clinic Returns to Sandy Seventh-Day Adventist

3,000-square-foot fellowship hall into a mobile dental clinic for the day. The clinic is offering free dental exams and X-rays, fillings, and extractions by walk-ins only. Flippers, cleanings and crowns will be by appointment only. (Flippers are partial dentures with up

In 2023, 142 patients received free dental service from local dentists, including three from Sandy, said clinic organizer Tami Beaty, who started the event with husband Jon Beaty in 2018. Last year, Tami saw firsthand many patients undergo flipper procedures. The patients were all smiles, brimming with self-confidence after getting their treatments.

“It just transformed their lives,” Tami said. “They could be proud of their smile. They don’t have to feel like they are

Tami and Jon got the idea for a free dental clinic when they volunteered at a large clinic in

another state. They saw such a huge demand for dental services at that mega clinic they thought, why not bring that kind of service to their local community?

“It was our vision,” Tami said. “We wanted to do more for our community. We wanted to show them the love of Jesus. We are here for them. Our church has really tried to do that.”

There’s such a high demand for local dental care, Tami said that last year the clinic had to turn away patients because they ran out of time. This year, they’re preparing for another large turnout. Free lunch is offered during the lunch hour. The afternoon can be a slower time to get in, so if residents are busy early on, show up when you can.

The husband and wife team share a passion for helping people in need. Jon has a degree in social work and leads depression and anxiety ministries in the church. Tami

has a background working in medical offices and has seen first hand the needs of the community. Jon, Tami and staff look forward to serving as many community members as possible! The Sandy Adventist Church offers several ministries, including a monthly clothing exchange, Oct. 6 this month, the same day as the free dental clinic. They also offer a grief recovery program and a depression and anxiety recovery program. Other popular services include free vision clinics and mammography clinics. The next mammography clinic is Nov. 14, by appointment only by calling Tami at 503-6984622. Also, a plant-based cooking class is set for Oct. 13 at the church. Sandy Adventist Church is located at 18575 SE Langensand Road. For more information about the dental clinic, visit sandyadventistchurch.org/events.

By Ty Walker at Sandy Seventh-day And there will be a craft

Jose Ruelas and Jack Glass with a Sandy River steelhead caught during a break in the rain.

Catching salmon in shorts is possible in the PNW but not for very long.

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Beware of Puppy Mills

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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) 6 7 5 3 1 4 2 7 1 2 8 9 6 5 2 3 3 1 9 2 4 9

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other announcements. Residents of the Hoodland area and non-residents withsignificant ties to the mountain community may submit. There is no charge, but space is limited. Please email submissions to kaity@mountaintimesoregon.com

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.

By Rabbi Avrohom Dyce For The Mountain Times

As the color of the leaves begin to change to beautiful oranges and reds and we transition into the autumn months, the Jewish community prepares to celebrate one of the holiest days on the Hebrew calendar: Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year. Starting on Wednesday, October 2nd at sundown, the day marks the beginning of an entire month of festivals, garnering inspiration to start off the year on a spiritual high.

It is a unique holiday with both solemn and joyous parts to it. It is a day of prayer, a time to ask the Almighty to grant us a new year abounding with peace, prosperity and happiness for ourselves and our loved ones. The synagogues swell with congregants, including many that count this day amongst the few holidays they formally observe.

But it is also a joyous day as we hope and look forward to the

Community Events

Rosh Hashanah: A Day for Reflection

blessed year ahead, to new opportunities and a brighter future. For this reason Rosh Hashanah feasts customarily feature a sweet cuisine including (but not limited to) special raisin Challah bread, and apple dipped in honey and pomegranates.

Though this year has been a tough one we have trust in G-d (even though it’s hard) that in everything there is a silver lining, and we pray that next year we see only goodness and blessings revealed.

Although Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish holiday marking the beginning of the Jewish year, its historical context, message, and significance are universal, as it commemorates creation. More specifically, it is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve — the first human beings — as recorded in the Bible. This is an event that holds relevance and meaning to all of humanity.

Like Adam and Eve,

who were formed and created by G-d Himself, every human being, of all races and creeds, is created in G-d’s image, with a unique purpose that only he or she can achieve. This idea serves as the bedrock upon which all ethics and morals stand: respect for the feelings of others, their property, and being fair and just.

The Bible relates that Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden were asked on the first day of their life only one thing: not to eat from the “Tree of Knowledge.” However, they succumbed to their temptations, forgetting the principle for successful living that “the mind should rule the heart” and not vice-versa.

There is much to dwell on in the esoteric meaning behind this famous story but what is most relevant is the practical lesson that we can learn for our daily lives as we seek to transform the world back to the divine garden that it was meant to be.

of eating the forbidden fruit the Bible says: “And G-d called to man, and said to him: “Where are you?”

The story is recounted that some two hundred and fifty years ago a Russian minister of government who was well versed in both the Bible and Jewish theology posed the following question to Rabbi Schneur Zalman, the first Chabad hasidic spiritual leader. “How does it make sense for G-d to ask, ‘Where are you?” the minister queried. “Isn’t G-d aware of everything that transpires in the world? Can’t He see everything?”

The Rabbi then shared with him a profound thought that I like to ponder upon when sounding the Shofar (rams horn), customarily played during Rosh Hashanah services.

G-d was not simply seeking out Adam’s physical location, The question was infinitely deeper.

More so it should be understood as not only

being directed to Adam, but rather to each person and for all time. Each individual has been given abounding abilities, talents and skills which can be used to have a constructive and positive influence in the lives of their family and community.

The question of “Where are you?” beckons all of us to live up to our truest potential and make a positive difference in our world.

Let us not underestimate the effect we can have. If there is one thing that the recent Coronavirus pandemic has taught us, it is just how interconnected we truly are.

When someone sneezed in Melbourne, nursing homes in Miami were no longer safe. A fever in Portland could greatly impact the economy of Poland. The boundaries of space fell aside as the world transformed into one global village with entire schools, colleges and businesses being run remotely online.

Show loving kindness to all living creatures, for in all respects and where animals are concerned, the self same feelings are shared.

When we reflect on the above, we can learn an important lesson about the effect that each of us can have on one another, even on people who are physically far away or very different from ourselves. A single act of charity, a cheerful greeting to a stranger, or an encouraging word can have far-reaching effects. Performing an act of kindness is like dropping a pebble in a lake - watch and see how the ripples go out from the point of contact and influence everything around you. As the Lubavitcher Rebbe taught, there should be no need for labels and division amongst people, for indeed we are all created by the same G-d, with the same expectation and ability to add goodness and charity to our world.

Rabbi Avrohom Dyce directs the Gresham Chabad Jewish Center which also services the Sandy and Mt. Hood area and can be reached at rabbi@jewishgresham. com

By Lion, Milt Fox

For The Mountain Times

GOLF TOURNEY

On Saturday September 7th the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort and the Mt. Hood Lions Club put on the 1st Annual Welches Charity Open Golf Tournament to raise money for a community disaster relief fund. The weather was perfect and the event was extremely well attended with 29 foursomes participating. Our thanks to Pacific Office Automation and the Whistle Stop Bar & Grill for their major sponsorship; to Mt. Hood Cannabis Company and The Door Works

Blythe Creek, Broker, GRI, CRS, ABR, GREEN www blythecreek com

Blythe Creek, Broker, GRI, CRS, ABR, GREEN www blythecreek com

blythe@blythecreek com Tel: 503 706 7101

Company of Portland for their generous cash donations; to US Foods, Skyway Bar & Grill, Tito’s Vodka, Pub 26 and Custom Stone Creations for food and drink donations; to Coopers Wine Bar, Whistle Stop, Welches Mountain Hardware, Coffee House 26, and Welches Liquor Store for their beautiful gift baskets; to Dennis Denault for his musical talents; and most importantly to Elizabeth Kwon, President and CEO of Mt. Hood Oregon Resort and the hardworking, talented staff of the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort for putting on this amazing event to benefit our community! Thanks to all of the golfers in our community and the greater Portland area for your support and participation. We look forward to an even bigger and better event next year.

From our Club President Lion David Anderson

Selling Properties on Mt. Hood Since 1985

Selling Properties on Mt. Hood Since 1985

Blythe Creek, Broker, GRI, CRS, ABR, GREEN www.blythecreek.com Tel: 503.706.7101

Mt. Hood Lions Club: Mountain Roar

BINGO!

Lions Bingo began on Friday September 27th. We had a great turnout for our first night of this year’s season.. Bingo is our largest fundraiser, helping to support our scholarship program and much more. Come and have a great Friday night: doors will open at 6:00pm with Bingo starting at 7:00pm. Our Bingo Chairwoman is Lion Carol Norgard.

FALL PLANT

SALE SATURDAY OCTOBER 12TH!

“Love the trees until the leaves fall off, then encourage them again next year.” -Chad Sugg And with that in mind, the Mt Hood Lions encourage you to come to our fall plant sale. We will have ornamental greenery, trees and plants adapted to fall planting, all donated by area nurseries to assist us with funding for Swimming Lessons for mountain kids next

summer. Come by our parking lot from 9am. to 2 pm. (or until all plants are sold) on Saturday October 12th. Depending on the weather, stop by for hot coffee or cocoa, and advice from local plant experts on how to make sure your purchase thrives next spring.

From our Swimming Lessons Chairman, Lion David Buoy

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE!

We will be hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive on Saturday October 19th. Hours are 9:00am to 2:00pm. To schedule your appointment or for more information, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit www.redcrossblood. org, sponsor code: Mt HoodLionsClub Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/ RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the

day of your appointment.

NEW MEMBER

INITIATION!

Our club will be initiating several new members at our Wednesday October 23rd, club dinner meeting MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC!

If you have health needs or concerns, consider inquiring at “femforward” Mobile Health Clinic. 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. Make appointments through their website, by texting or calling. Their next visit will be on Friday October 25th at the Lions Club. Watch for our advertising.

CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE DINNER!

We’re making plans for our Christmas Toy Drive Dinner to be held December 7th. We have been holding this dinner to support our communities’ youngsters since 1996. We have a great dinner planned for you, prepared by our own Lion Chef Craig Calvert along with his crew of hard working Lions.Our Christmas Toy Drive Dinner Chairwoman is Lion Sarah O’Dowd and she is planning for a “CandyLand Christmas” theme. More details to come in next month’s column. We are also making plans for another Red Cross Blood Drive Saturday December 14th. It’s great to be a Lion!

blythe@blythecreek com Tel: 503 706 7101

Robin Ekloff Owner

Getting to the Point With Porcupines

By Clackamas Soil & Water District

From our friends at the Woodland Fish and Wildlife Group: we are happy to share with you

“Porcupines in Managed Woodlands: Tools for Family Forestland Owners.” This publication introduces these prickly mammals and includes interesting facts about the species. The purpose is to help small woodland owners under-

stand porcupines in Oregon and Washington forests, the dual role they play as both an important part of the ecosystem and a potential agricultural pest, and how to manage forests with porcupines in mind, as the mammals face an uncertain future.

“Porcupines in Managed Woodlands: Tools for Family Forestland Owners” provides background and context for better understanding the role managed forests

play in providing habitat for porcupines. Important concepts covered in the publication include biological threats to porcupines, the tree damage they cause, and tools for management of the species.

The North American porcupine (Erithezon dorsatum) is the only species of porcupine found in the United States. It is also the largest species of porcupine in the world, weighing

up to thirty-five pounds. They spend much of their time in trees and dine on bark and wood, but are also known to eat fruit, leaves, and buds.

To determine if the damage on a tree is from a porcupine or other forest animal, look at the teeth marks. Porcupines will leave teeth marks that are five millimeters wide and one inch long. Compare this to mountain beavers who leave much smaller teeth marks. It is also important to look for other clues like nearby dens or scat, because tooth marks alone can be tricky to discern.

This publication provides interesting information about this fascinating animal, as well as tips on managing and preventing damage. Porcupines are struggling to survive and need to be part of your forest management, not a species to eradicate.

Download Porcupines in Managed Woodlands: Tools for Family Forestland Owners at https:// conservationdistrict. org/?wpfb_dl=957

$575,000

The Mountain Times