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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 28, 2015)
SPECIAL SECTIONS Who’s Who, Home and Garden Wh o ’ s HOME& GARDEN G O R G E R E A L E S T A T What’s Going On? 2015 W h o A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E D A L L E S C H R O N I C L E & H O O D R I V E R N E W S E March 2015 W EEKEND E DITION Vol. 109, No. 17 HRMS Play, and more – A9, A3 Featuring businesses of Hood River County 75 cents 4 Sections, 78 Pages A Special Publication of the Hood River News HOOD RIVER, OREGON Official Newspaper, City of Hood River and Hood River County ■ SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015 www.hoodrivernews.com CL Port looks to acquire land near fire hall Port also considering BOTG toll increases By BEN MITCHELL News staff writer The Port of Cascade Locks is looking to acquire a county-owned property in the city that the port hopes to use as a site for economic development. General Manager Paul Koch said that last week the Cascade Locks Port Commission directed staff to move forward in conversations with Hood River County for pur- chase of a 2.3-acre parcel that is lo- cated directly east of the fire sta- tion at 25 WaNaPa Street for the purposes of economic develop- ment. Koch said the parcel had been initially purchased by the county as the intended site for a public health clinic. The county received a $600,000 federal grant several years ago to build the facility when it was anticipated that an off-reservation casino would prompt a population boom for Cascade Locks and sur- rounding areas. The casino never materialized and as a result, the county ultimately elected to create smaller health centers located in- side the Cascade Locks School as well as Mid Valley Elementary in Odell. The port is interested in pur- chasing the land and then selling it to a new business or to a business that is looking to relocate, Koch said. He explained that the port is “looking for other assets” as it con- tinues to develop the Business Park and looks to sell property there. No purchase price of the proper- ty was mentioned; according to See PORT, Page A5 ‘Feast of Words’ KEY TALENTS Benefit for library park features food, auction and music By KIRBY NEUMANN-REA News editor Submitted photo BRYNN SEARCY, SOPHOMORE at Hood River Valley High School, had two of her photographs entered recently in both the Oregon College of Art and Craft (OCAC) Juried High School Art Show, and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards (SAWA). She took a Gold Key award at SAWA. HRVHS sophomore gives inside look at art competitions BY TRISHA WALKER News staff writer Hood River Valley High School sopho- more Brynn Searcy is an artist. And a state and nationally recognized artist at that. Searcy, along with some of her HRVHS peers, recently took part in two art compe- titions: Oregon College of Art and Craft (OCAC) Juried High School Art Show, and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards (SAWA). The competitions have a couple of key differences. OCAC is “a local thing,” Searcy explained, open to students in western Oregon. A college representative came to HRVHS and selected pieces for entry into the contest and subsequent art show. Initially, he want- ed to take two of her pho- tographs for the competi- tion, but “due to lack of space plus all of the amaz- ing talent in our school,” was only able to choose one, she said. On Feb. 19, Searcy and fellow HRVHS contestants Andrew McCarthy, Fenn Paider, Rianna Piatt, America Flores, Page A8 Samples of Brynn Searcy’s work, and a related story. S p o t l i g h t a t u r d a y Wendy Garcia, Amy Griffin, Jamarah Wil- son, Savannah Boersma and Summer Bog- ard traveled to OCAC, located in Portland, to learn contest results and see their pieces displayed in the school’s Hoffman Gallery. While she didn’t win one of the cash awards, “it was still an amazing experi- ence to be featured in a gallery show at my age,” she said. Her piece, titled “Abstract Body,” and those of her classmates, will be on display in the Hoffman Gallery at OCAC through March 4. The party inside helps the grounds outside. The Hood River County Library Foundation hosts the annual Feast of Words inside the down- town Hood River Library on March 7 from 6-9 p.m. The Library Foundation’s goal is to raise $25,000 to update the park surrounding the library, the Georgiana Smith Memorial Gardens, which turns 10 years old this year. The Gardens are managed by the library district, and they were affected dramat- ically by the library’s closure in 2011, according to director Buzzy Nielsen. Funds raised at the Feast of Words will be used to replant some areas, hire a professional service to care for the plant beds, re- place the irrigation system, and replace some of the worn furniture. There will be many fun events for the whole fam- ily at the Feast of Words. Children are welcome, too! Library staff will be on hand with activities for kids downstairs in the Children’s Library. The desserts and snacks are being coordinated by Polly Wood. The event will include music by Amber and the Pale Ales, exquisite desserts and savory appetizers, local wine and beer, in the downtown Hood River Library. If you have never partied inside a library, this is your chance. Many live and silent auction items will be up for bid, including a Solstice Pizza Dinner for 25 at your home, one week’s lodging in a charming apartment in Oaxaca, Mexico, and fun items from many mer - chants around the county. Or perhaps you’d like to See LIBRARY, Page A2 A weekly series about a day in the life ... See ART, Page A2 Kristi Thomsen finds ‘new job’ this year BY TRISHA WALKER News staff writer Photo by Trisha Walker; submitted KRISTI THOMSEN, wife of State Senator Chuck Thomsen, puts in many hours at the Adult Center, among other volunteer responsibilities. At right, Thomsen is pictured with daughters Mallory (center) and Meagan, who were both married last summer. Life hasn’t slowed down much for Kristi Thomsen the past couple of years. Last summer, she planned both of her daughters’ wed- dings, one of which was held at her Pine Grove home on her own wedding anniversary — July 19. “They’re happy now, but I don’t know if I’ve recovered,” she joked. And as if that wasn’t enough, her husband, State Sen. Chuck Thomsen (R-Hood River), was on the campaign trail. “If it wasn’t weddings, it was campaign stuff,” Thomsen said. But this year, the majority of her time is spent at the Hood River Valley Adult Center, off Brookside Drive on the Heights. She’s serving as vice president on the newly-elected board, along with president Suzanne VanOrman, secretary Debra Laraway and treasurer Paul Zastrow; Connie Peters and Helen Elmer serving in at-large positions. “That’s my new job now,” Thomsen said. “The senior cen- ter and Chuck.” See KRISTI, Page A5 Four To Go Small Business Showcase returns March 12 Hood River’s premier small business networking and showcasing event is just two weeks away. On Thursday, March 12, dozens of Hood River small businesses will showcase their trade at the Butler Bank Building, 301 Oak St. The 5 to 7:30 p.m. event is free for the public to attend. (A previous article gave the incorrect date.) 7 05105 97630 3 Climate change forum March 5 Grad party seek support Members of Gorge-area faith communi- ties are invited to join together for a brown bag lunch event on March 5 to explore and discuss the challenges of the climate crisis. Leaders from the Columbia Gorge Cli- mate Action Network (CGCAN) will facili- tate a discussion about how communities can act to address the political, economic and educational challenges of climate change. The brown bag lunch event, sponsored by Gorge Ecumenical Ministries, will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hood River Valley Christian Church, 975 Indian Creek Rd. June 5 marks the day that the Senior Class of Hood River Valley High School will celebrate with an all-night party. Project Graduation 2015 is a community effort orga- nized by volunteer parents, to honor our graduates for a job well done and provide a safe place to celebrate. Elks Club donates the use of their facilities each year and this year marks the 50th year that Elks has done so. HRVHS is looking for more community members willing to donate their time to help support Project Graduation 2015. Con- tact Melissa DelCarpine at delcarpineauto- motive@gmail.com or call 541-399-3729 if you are interested in getting involved. Clink! celebration happens Feb. 28 at museum Clink! A Taste of Oregon Wine exhibit, opens this weekend, Feb. 28, from 6-8 p.m. at The History Museum, 300 Port Marina Drive. The exhibit traces the history of Oregon wines and the stories of some of the individuals and institutions that pro- pelled Oregon wine onto the national and international stage. Hood Crest Winery, Cathedral Ridge Winery, Viento and Gar- nier Vineyards will offer tastings; appe- tizers and live music also included. Tick- ets are $35 at Waucoma Bookstore and at the museum.
