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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.