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HOOD RIVER NEWS | Hood River, Ore.
hoodrivernews.com
YESTERYEARS
New Year’s is ‘most orderly’ in 1940
1910 — 110 YEARS AGO
A tradition of
holiday cards
By PEGGY DILLS KELTER
Our home, built circa 1945, has a beautiful fireplace and man-
tle. Thanks to modern technology, it also has a functional gas
insert, a welcome replacement to the wood-burning fireplace
that inevitably filled our home with smoke. Over the 34 years
we’ve lived in this house, we’ve frequently adorned the mantle
with holiday decorations. But the most important decorations
we hang on the mantle are those that come in the mail — annual
holiday cards sent from family and friends.
Opening the mail is decidedly more interesting during the
holidays, when the special cards arrive each day, eclipsing the
pleading requests for donations and the endless ads for stuff I
don’t need and don’t want. And what I want more than anything
is to hear from loved ones.
My parents instilled in me a love for holiday cards. They were
major supporters of the greeting card companies and the United
States Postal Service, sending 350 cards every year. Come the
early fall, a salesman would drop off large notebooks of card
samples. We would all browse the notebooks and select the
image that would be THE card for that year’s greeting. When
our order arrived, my dad would write the annual letter, pull out
his card file with names and addresses, and pen personal mes-
sages. Sealed and stamped, we dropped off the heavy boxes at
the post office, and waited with anticipation for people to send
cards back to us.
In the mid-’70s, my parents began asking me to design a card
for them, a task I enjoyed so much that when I married and
started my own family, I continued the tradition, designing and
sending cards to relatives and friends. This has become one of
the most significant rituals of the holiday season.
This year, I mailed 100 cards, and though I didn’t get 100
cards in return, I’m delighted to say the mantle was filled with
cards from near and far. The younger generations (are they X, Y
or Z?) favor photo cards; it’s delightful to see families grow and
change.
Since 1986, my artistic sister-in-law has been saving my cards
in a beautifully designed scrapbook, one page for each year.
Other than reading Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory”
annually, paging through the scrapbook is one of my favorite
acts of the holiday season.
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The received cards are gone from the mantle now, some in
storage, some to recycling and others to my art studio, where
they may be used in future collages. My friend Larry keeps a
stack on his desk, choosing a card randomly each day. Then he
says a little prayer for the person who was thoughtful enough to
send him a card. He repeats this for the entire year.
Before carefully storing the scrapbook away, I revisit the cards
I made and the messages I’ve sent along with the images I’ve
created. The most joyful cards are those that feature my 2-year-
old grandson; recent images are all about him. A few more se-
rious messages still seem applicable, years after I created them.
Herewith, a few favorites that have weathered time quite well.
1986: “Peace — let it begin in our hearts”
1992: “A recipe for holiday seasoning: Blend together 1 cup
generosity, 1 cup gaiety, 2 cups tolerance, 2 ½ cups compassion,
and 3 cups humor. Use liberally throughout the coming year.”
1993: A drawing of an apple adorns the front of the card. In-
side, an image of the apple sliced in half with the message “Look
inside to find the star.”
2004: I purchased a jigsaw puzzle with an image of a Pine
Grove barn and Mount Hood. A small envelope glued on the
front of each card holds just one piece of the puzzle, with the
phrase “Piece on Earth.” Inside, the card reads, “The piece
you find adhered to the front of this card comes from a puzzle
depicting the beautiful valley where we live. It represents our
connections with each other. At a time when the world feels sad
and broken, may we remind ourselves how we fit together as a
human family. Together we have the potential to solve the puz-
zles of our planet. Peace on Earth.” Sixteen years after I created
this card, its message still resonates with me.
CGGS to meet Jan. 11
The Columbia Gorge Genea-
logical Society will hold its next
meeting on Saturday, Jan. 11
in the downstairs classroom at
the Columbia Gorge Discovery
Center, 5000 Discovery Drive,
The Dalles.
This month’s program will
be the “Individual Research
Assistance” project, said a
press release.
“The project consists of col-
laboration between members
ing with other members in
solving their research dead
ends or brick walls,” said a
CGGS press release.
The project will run in Jan-
uary and February. Members
are encouraged to bring their
laptops and research data.
A short business meeting
will begin at 10:30 a.m., fol-
lowed by the beginning of the
research assistance project.
There is no admission
charge to the Discovery Cen-
ter for attending CGGS meet-
ings. A $1 donation is appreci-
ated to cover room rental.
A very unique reception was
held at the Mount Hood Hotel
Friday afternoon when about
65 little girls gathered there with
their dollies at the invitation of
Mrs. C.A. Bell. The occasion was
the entrance into doll society
of the aristocratic young lady
recently won by Miss Anna Dart
in the contest at Cram’s store.
Her debut is said to have been
the most elaborate ever given a
society doll at Hood River and
was attended by 65 of the swell-
est doll set in the city.
1920 — 100 YEARS AGO
Speeders, beware! As the
result of a visit of a delegation
from the city council to the
County Court on Wednesday,
it has been decided by the latter
body that a speed cop will be
employed to bring an end to
the reckless driving of autos
that has endangered the lives of
many in this valley. It is stated
that the authorities are deter-
mined to check this abuse by
recourse of heavy punishment
and those who have succeeded
in getting by the law in the past
will, if they are wise, take no
chances in the future.
1930 — 90 YEARS AGO
Hood River has experienced,
during the past seven days,
almost all kids of weather, from
that of balmy spring down to
deep winter. One week ago, the
weather resembled that gen-
erally experienced here about
the end of March, with balmy
breezes from the west and
the hills almost bare of snow.
Sunday morning there was a
snowfall of a couple of inches,
and while some of it thawed
off the ground during the day,
sufficient remained to cool the
air. During the night, the wind
veered around to the east and
on Monday, those who traveled
over the roads knew, by the
slithering of the rear end of the
car, that winter was here.
Hood River News archives
J ANUARY 15, 1970
Signs going up here tell the story of Hood River’s new snow regulations now going into effect.
William Evans and Dan Mitchel are placing the new signs here on Oak Street, one of the routes
where parking will not be allowed during declared emergencies. Appearance of the signs
caused some confusion so Mayor Glen McPherren clarified that the restrictions will be in effect
only during declared snow emergencies, which will be announced. During other times, normal
parking will be allowed.
of businesses, says the firm, has
increased for the sixth consecu-
tive year. Hood River County, as
a whole, showed a total of 215
businesses. The Dun & Brad-
street reference book does not
include some of the service and
professional businesses such
as beauty and barber shops,
security dealers and real estate
brokers. Therefore, the figure for
businesses in Hood River would
actually be higher than the num-
ber quoted above.
1940 — 80 YEARS AGO
1970 — 50 YEARS AGO
“The most orderly crowds of
New Year greeters we ever saw
in Hood River,” was the unan-
imous verdict of local police
officers when aske to review
New Year’s celebrations. “We
had three officers on duty New
Year’s Eve and all through the
night, and it was the dullest
period of duty they had known
in a long time, for not one call
was put in,” said another officer.
1950 — 70 YEARS AGO
Hood River County Court is
calling for bids on the construc-
tion of an administration build-
ing and connecting utilities at
the county airport. Included in
the project are the administra-
tion building, sewer line and
septic tank and underground
electric cable. The proposed
building is another work proj-
ect in the improvement of the
county’s only airfield. Previous-
ly the county, with state aid, has
provided fo the leveling, drain-
age and turfing of the 1,900-foot
airstrip.
1960 — 60 YEARS AGO
There are a total of 170 busi-
nesses in Hood River, accord-
ing to statistics released by J.
Harry White, district manager
of the Portland office of Dun
& Bradstreet, Inc. The number
County residents will have an
opportunity to air their views on
mobile homes at a public hearing
in February, County Planning
Commissioners decided Tues-
day. Their decision grew out of
a series of events that affect not
just Hood River, but the rest of
Oregon as well. A great influx
of the mobile units has kept the
issue bubbling for some time,
and a new set of rules which went
into effect this year heightens the
interest.
1980 — 40 YEARS AGO
The heaviest snowfall in three
decades, up to four feet of the
stuff in two days, sealed Hood
River County in a deep, white en-
velope this week. It stopped just
about everything except emer-
gency services Tuesday night,
and although up to 18 inches fell
after nightfall on that day, people
were already digging themselves
out on Wednesday. Several stores
and banks were open in Hood
River business areas on Wednes-
day, main routes were open and
being plowed, though many
people had no reason to be
concerned about that. They were
shocked by the sudden snowfall.
Old timers said it had never
snowed so much so fast here.
VERBATIM
National Dial System Ready For HR Phones
The Oregon Washington
Telephone Company plans
expansion of Direct Distance
Dialing from a local to a na-
tionwide basis for telephone
users in Hood River, Odell and
Dee exchange areas starting
Jan. 17.
At the same time, telephone
users in White Salmon will be
offered nationwide direct dial-
ing, also starting Jan. 17.
At present, users in Hood
River, Dee and Odell can direct
distance dial parties in the
Hood River Valley and as far as
Portland and The Dalles. After
Jan. 17, these users will be able
to dial out on the nationwide
direct distance dialing system.
1990 — 30 YEARS AGO
Odell Industrial Park was
given top financial priority on the
Port of Hood River’s lengthy list
of projects at a planning session
this week. A platted subdivision
for the property is set for a hear-
ing before the county planning
commission at their meeting
Wednesday at the courthouse.
Clocks stopped in hundreds of
Hood River homes at 12:30 a.m.
on Monday. That’s when strong
winds uprooted a tall fir at 17th
and Sherman streets, sending it
crashing down onto one of Pacif-
ic Power’s main feeder lines.
This system allows the cus-
tomer to dial many but not all
of the telephone exchanges
in the United States as well as
some places in Canada and
Hawaii.
A list of many of the more
frequently called places will
be mailed to telephone users
in Hood River, Odell, Dee and
White Salmon. This list will
not include all dialable points
and the telephone customer
should call the information
operator when he is in doubt
whether a place may be dialed
direct.
— Hood River News, Janu-
ary 7, 1960
those functions to its offices in
Medford. As the customer care
center is closed, the other local
call center, which handles repair
requests, will be expanded.
2010 — 10 YEARS AGO
A public meeting on the pro-
posed Middle Mountain Wind
Project has been scheduled for
Jan. 12 at the Dee fire hall. The
county is conducting a feasibil-
ity study for spending $22-24
million on a set of wind turbines
that would generate 9 mega-
watts of electrical power. Critics
of the proposal argue that the
investment is too expensive and
2000 — 20 YEARS AGO
the project will not pay for itself;
Corporate restructuring that the turbines themselves
means more changes at Sprint’s would be visible obstructions
Hood River offices. But the and harmful to wildlife; and that
change should not result in any the proposed small wind farm
local job losses, according to a would lead to many more tur-
company spokesperson. The bines being installed.
telecommunications company
■
is closing its local customer call
Compiled by Trisha Walker
center, located at its Wauco- and Emily Fitzgerald, News staff
ma Center facility, and moving writers
Youth Mental Health First Aid training Jan. 28
On Tuesday, Jan. 28, the Hood
River County Prevention Depart-
ment and Educational Service
District (ESD) 112 will be offering
a Youth Mental Health First Aid
training in Hood River County.
Registration is open to the
“One in five
Americans has a
mental illness, but
many are reluctant
to seek help or might
not know where to
turn for care ...”
public, and costs $20 for the
manual; space is limited, so
participants are encouraged to
reserve their spots early. The
training will be at the Fish Food
Bank, 1130 Tucker Road, Hood
River.
The 8-hour training course is
intended to give people the tools
to identify when a youth might
be struggling with a mental
health or substance use problem
and to connect them with appro-
priate supports and resources
when necessary, according to a
Prevention Department press
release.
“One in five Americans has
a mental illness, but many are
reluctant to seek help or might
not know where to turn for care,”
said the press release. “Unlike
physical conditions, symptoms
of mental health and substance
use problems can be difficult to
detect. For friends and family
members, it can be hard to know
when and how to step in. As a
result, those in need of mental
health services often do not get
help until it is too late.”
Just as CPR (Cardio Pulmo-
nary Resuscitation) can help
those without clinical training as-
sist an individual having a heart
attack, Youth Mental Health First
Aid is intended to prepare partic-
ipants to interact with a person
experiencing a mental health
crisis, said the press release.
Youth Mental Health First havioral Health in the U.S., in
To learn more about Mental
Aiders learn a five-step action partnership with the Missouri Health First Aid USA, visit www.
plan that guides them through Department of Health.
mentalhealthfirstaid.org.
the process of reaching out and
offering appropriate support.
LOCATION
RETAIL SALES HOURS:
For more information or to
200 SOUTH WALNUT
MONDAY – FRIDAY,
BINGEN, WA
7:00AM - 3:30 PM
participate in the Youth Men-
509.493. 2751
tal Health First Aid training in
Hood River County, contact the
Prevention Department at 541-
387-6890 or belinda.ballah@
VISIT OUR
WE CARRY
co.hoodriver.or.us, or visit their
WEBSITE
STOVE
Facebook page, Hood River Pre-
SDSLUMBER.COM
PELLETS
vents.
■
Mental Health First Aid origi-
nated as an Australian program
in 2001.
The program is operated by
the National Council for Be-
Crisis support lines
If you’re struggling — or even just want to talk or text with somebody for a few minutes — there are plenty of people willing and able to help:
■ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call at 1-800-273-8255 visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
■ Mid-Columbia Center for Living: Call 1-888-877-9147 for immediate support; visit www.mccfl.org/services/mental-health/crisis/ for more info.
■ Oregon YouthLine: A teen-to-teen line; visit oregonyouthline.org for more info.
■ Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 or visit www.crisistextline.org/ to learn more.
■ Trevor Project: A support network for LGBTQ youth. Call the TrevorLifeline at 1-866-488-7386 or visit www.thetrevorproject.org.
LOCAL SALES
STUDS
LANDSCAPE
MATERIALS
#2 & Btr, KD, DF, S4SEE
2x4 - 6’ thru 16’
2x6 - 6’ thru 20’
4x4 - 8’ treated posts
4x4 - 8’, 10‘ posts
BARK DUST
CHIPS
PLYWOOD
3/8” thru 3/4”
CDX, ACX, T&G AND
SANDED PANELS
DRAIN ROCK
GRAVEL
SAND
RAILROAD TIES
YARD MULCH
SAWDUST
SHAVINGS
“DIRT HUGGER” COMPOST
FENCE POSTS & BOARDS
WE
DELIVER