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Wednesday, April 28, 2021
NEWS IN BRIEF
Wyden to hold Wasco County
online town hall May 2
Columbia Gorge News
www.columbiagorgenews.com
Help wanted: Service workers in the Gorge
Oberst
■ By For Gail
Columbia Gorge News
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden has scheduled a live online town hall
hosted by People’s Town Hall for residents of Wasco County
at 3:30 p.m. May 2. To watch, visit www.facebook.com/
events/213222103510475.
Wyden will also host town halls in Morrow, Umatilla, Union
and Wallowa counties.
Wyden has postponed in-person town halls until there are
clear-cut public health guidelines that a large open-to-all
public meeting poses no unusual health risk for Oregonians.
After the pandemic in March 2020 required Wyden’s town
halls to go virtual, he has continued to hold regional and
county virtual town halls.
HOOD RIVER — If
COVID-19 restrictions
continue to improve, this
summer’s tourist season in
the Columbia Gorge promis-
es to be better than last year
— much better.
Now, area service industry
employers are faced with a
new worry. Will their work-
ers return after last year’s
pandemic hiatus? Right now,
it appears the answer is:
National Scenic Area discussed May 3
Maybe.
This month Hood River
HOOD RIVER — The Hood River Board of Commissioners
county and port officials
plan to discuss May 3 the pros and cons of adopting revi-
— both agencies hire sum-
sions to a management plan for the federal Columbia River
Gorge National Scenic Area. The Columbia River Gorge
mer help to do everything
Commission, which oversees the federally designated area,
from pick up trash, clean
adopted the changes in as required in the National Scenic
bathrooms and staff special
Area Act.
events — noted the lack of
March 16 the Gorge Commission sent a letter to the Hood
applicants for summer jobs.
River Board, requesting it incorporated the plan’s chang-
The worry was prompted
by an unexpected sunny
es into its zoning ordinances, giving the county 60 days to
weekend flurry of visitors
respond.
to port facilities in April,
Hood River County for the past three years has included
most of which were not yet
National Scenic Area provisions in its Zoning Ordinances
and receives technical assistance funding to staff its activities. opened. Hood River Port
officials wondered if their
County staff recommend continuing Hood River County’s
official July 1 was an early
support of the provisions, which will maintain its ability rec-
enough start date, or if their
ommend changes to the plan.
seasonal worker budget, now
Current revisions to the plan include added protection
at $18,000 per month, was
for streams and wetlands and sets new guidelines for farm
stands, wineries, short-term rentals, recreation developments enough.
“Can we move that
and dwellings, among others.
date to be sooner?” asked
If Hood River County adopts the revisions, it has 270 days
Port Commissioner Kristi
to incorporate the changes into its Zoning Ordinance.
Chapman, who noted that
Specific changes are listed in the May 3 Hood River Board
recent sunny weather was a
of Commissioners packet.
wake-up call for already over-
whelmed riverfront services.
Columbia Basin Care Foundation accepting
Waterfront Manager Daryl
scholarship applications thru May 15
Stafford reported that the
port, as of April 20, had no
THE DALLES — To grow and develop the medical com-
applicants and only two re-
munity, the Columbia Basin Care Foundation is offering
scholarships to local students pursuing careers in healthcare. turning employees for at least
Applications are due by May 15.
12 open summer positions.
The $2,500 scholarships support health-related studies in
“We can’t open the re-
a variety of areas, such as nursing, food and nutrition, public strooms until there’s staff,”
health, social services, and more.
Stafford said, although she
Scholarships are awarded in two categories: Residents of
said portable restrooms
the Columbia River Gorge, and Employees of Columbia Basin are an option. “This will be
Care.
an ongoing problem for all
Gorge residents
businesses,” she said of the
The $2,500 scholarship encourages and supports individu- possible lack of employees.
als pursuing careers in healthcare fields. Applicants must live
within the immediate Columbia Gorge region (Wasco, Hood
Service employee
River and Klickitat counties). Funds may be used for studies
shortage
far-reaching
at any college, university, or trade school.
Employees
Chapman and Stafford
The $2,500 scholarship encourages and supports employ-
were not alone in their con-
ees working to further their education in order to better per-
cerns. Gorge business owners
who depend on visitors,
form in their current position or to secure increased respon-
sibility and advancement within the company. All employees hope to reopen their doors
with a full crew. That hope,
are eligible to apply. Funds may be used for studies at any
however, is looking bleak
college, university, or trade school.
To apply
Scholarship applications are available on the Columbia
Basin Care website, www.colbasin.com/foundation.
Completed applications must be received by May 15. Mail
to Columbia Basin Care, 1015 Webber St., The Dalles, OR
97058, or email to DrewM@ColBasin.com. Awards will be
announced in July 2021.
Historic
Glenwood Fire seeks
levy adjustment
GRANADA
state-and-nationwide.
In Oregon, unemploy-
ment recovery has ticked
up from 13 percent last year
to 6 percent, according to
State of Oregon Employment
Department (OED) statistics.
Two-thirds of the employ-
ment gains in March were
leisure and hospitality jobs
statewide, but the industry,
which lost more than 100,000
jobs during the pandemic,
still has far to go, according
to Gail Krumenauer, state
economist.
Local business owners
agree.
“Hood River is a seasonal
town. Our spring staff-up
for restaurants is always a
challenge. This year, however,
is unlike any other. On top of
the difficulties from COVID
closures we face scarce
options for capable hires. Our
ability to recover, ultimately
to survive this past year is at
grave risk,” Ben Stenn, owner
of Celilo Restaurant & Bar in
Hood River, said in a recent
Oregon Restaurant & Lodging
Association survey. ORLA
conducted the survey to as-
sess similar worker shortages
statewide.
Aaron Baumhackl, owner
of Solstice Wood Fire Café in
Hood River, said that many of
his staff have left the hospi-
tality business to take “9-to-5
jobs.”
“If we don’t have a cook,
we don’t have a restaurant,”
said Leslie VanSickly of The
Dalles Country Club. Full Sail
Brewery’s restaurant in Hood
River has curtailed its seating
capacity and online orders
due to a shortage of staff,
according to Lisa Merkin, the
pub’s general manager.
While some local employ-
ers blame the slow return to
work on extended unemploy-
ment benefits, statistics sug-
gest other factors are in play,
according to Dallas Fridley,
regional economist for the
OED. Of more than 600
unemployment claims from
hospitality workers last April
in Hood River and Wasco
counties, there now remain
only 80 active claims in that
sector. More likely, those
workers have moved on to
other industries, Fridley said.
The pandemic has created
other worries for returning
workers: lack of childcare,
lack of vaccinations, and
concern for exposing sus-
ceptible family members at
home. Better wages, flexible
hours and better benefits
are among ways employers
can attract service industry
workers, he said. Employers
might also consider training
inexperienced workers.
“Not a bunch of people are
drawing claims and not going
back to work. Claims are
improving,” Fridley said.
Restaurant GUIDE
EGG RIVER CAFÉ
T H E A T R E
Jacob Bertram
■ By Columbia
Gorge News
fire emergency equipment,
pointing to PPE and the
district’s ambulance, which
is too small to carry certain
Klickitat County Fire
equipment.
District #7, also known as
“As our community grows,
Glenwood Volunteer Fire
Department, is running a levy we are receiving more med-
lid lift proposal for the April
ical and fire calls. With dryer
27 election this week which, than normal conditions, we
if approved by a majority
have seen an increase in
of Glenwood voters, would
wildland fires in our area,”
raise the maximum dollar
Gimlin said.
amount levied per year by the
Glenwood Fire
district to $1.50 per $1,000 of Department volunteers held
assessed property value.
an open house last Sunday
The district is asking for the which allowed visitors to
same levy lid lift as had been speak with Chief Gimlin
proposed in 2018, but since
and other volunteers, and
problems with the language
to take a look at two new
invalidated the proposal, the engines obtained at no cost
district is running the ballot
through Clark County and
measure again this year to
Washington Department of
secure the funding, said
Natural Resources.
Glenwood Fire Chief Brent
Gimlin said the additional
Gimlin.
financial resources would
Gimlin said the proposal
also afford volunteers more
to raise the maximum levy
time spent in training to per-
amount comes from a need
form their job safer and more
to update and maintain
effectively.
Bartender Niki Piacente mixes a martini at Last Stop Saloon in downtown The Dalles. As service busi-
nesses in the Gorge look to reopen, managers are struggling to hire sufficient staff for the summer
season, which is expected to be busier than normal due to pent up demand.
Contributed photo by Hailey Gorbet
Dinner, Trivia, Entertainment
at the Historic Granada Theatre.
Upcoming events include:
4/30, 5/1 Key Largo, Bogart & Bacall.
5/7,8 and Sunday 5/9, Mothers Day
Matinee Movie and Brunch!
Show Boat the Musical.
12:00p Brunch w/movie! Movie and
dinner, kids eat free. RSVP.
Details to follow.
“Breakfast of champions” – New York Times
Family friendly. Extensive breakfast
& lunch menus. Organic eggs, omelets
HOOD RIVER TAQUERIA
made with love, pancakes, waffles,
MEXICAN RESTAURANT
skillets, eggs benedict, organic coffee,
Featuring fine authentic Mexican food and
espresso, soups, salads, sandwiches,
cocktails. Spacious outdoor seating.
hamburgers. Full bar available
Closed Tuesdays
Open daily, 6am-2pm
1313 Oak St., Hood River
541-386-1127 | eggrivercafe.com
Only $0.10 a word with a 25 word minimum-
granadatheatrethedalles.com
To add your restaurant,
email sales@gorgenews.com
Sun. -Thurs. 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.,
Fri. - Sat. 9:30 am to 10 pm
1210 13th St., on the Heights,
Hood River | 541-387-3300
Advertise your restaurant here!
Celebrate with Us!
To add your restaurant,
email sales@gorgenews.com
We are here for all of your catering needs!
Open for dine in and
take out with all your
dinner favorites
NOW HIRING
Service TECHNICIANS
Experience preferred, but will
cross train. Work for the family owned
dealership since 1963 located in The Dalles.
These positions offer great pay and benefits.
Mon-Fri 8-5p.m with weekends off.
Call Curtis Rice, Service Manager
503-957-1478
The finest mexican
cuisine in the gorge!
Gift Cards Available
www.ixtapadelgorge.com
2400 W. 6th Street, The Dalles, Oregon
810 Cherry Heights
The Dalles
2929 Cascade Ave.
Hood River
115 E. Oregon St.
Hermiston
541-298-1265
541-386-1168
541-564-0320
Intersection of Hwys 30 & 35 | Open Tues.-Sun. 11am-8pm