Louis, Louis, oh no, take me to where your star gotta go
Fun Group members Louis and Gabe Red Cloud,Ted Rosenberg, Kurt Conger, Ted Valkov, David Jacobs and Matthew Klebes worked to replace a string of LED lights as well as other maintenance on the Star that illuminates the west hills of The Dalles on property formerly owned by Bert Hodges.
All photo's by Petra Van Kessel Ervin
The Dalles, Ore., Oct. 14, 2024 — Louis Red Cloud stepped into the sky on Saturday, Oct. 12, in quest of lighting up the Fun Group star in West the Dalles, atop the property formerly owned by Bert Hodges.
It overlooks Taylor Lake.
The 23-year-old was working in concert with an entire Group of Funsters who are readying stars to be lit the day after Thanksgiving.
Louis Red Cloud punctuates the point of the Christmas Season with some bright LEDs.
Editor's Note - We watched as father Gabe trained Louis, above, on climbing in precarious situations since Louis showed interest in climbing as a young man. Both were amazing in their focus on their equipment and strategies for safely ascending the star. The acrobatics of such a spacewalk are a sight to behold some 40 to 60 feet above the sharp shale of the basalt cliff.
“The Bert's Star LED replacement happened this morning. I have to give a huge shout-out to the following people who made it possible,” said Fun Group leader Kurt Conger on Saturday.
Gabe and Louis Red Cloud - amazing aerial work!
David Jacobs - helped lead the pace of the grounds team
Ted Rosenberg - a strong new helper, ladder man and excellent team member
Matthew Klebes - a new member of the group who kept our LED strings from getting tangled
Ted Valkov - always a trooper and a true scientist, purveyor of tools and untangler, also assisted with the post-mortem on the old LEDs
“The old LEDs lasted 6 years - much longer than light bulbs, but developed some weak internal connections that blacked out a half dozen 18" segments,” Conger noted. “I am excited and anxious to see how the new LEDs look at night - they should be brighter and sharper. Robyn (Conger) and I will go up tonight at around 6 ish and run a 1 lb tank through (about 2 hours) to test it.”
STAR GOSSIP
A new star, called Vista Star, is being planned. It would be constructed up on the hill by the reservoir above the Adventist Health Hospital in The Dalles. A representative of the City and I took a drive to the reservoir, and this is a great location. This would be a 40 ft. star that would connect to an outlet at the reservoir. I am working with the City and NWCPUD to develop a plan. More to come, Conger said.
Read the seminal story of the Star and the Fun Group here.
Those wanting to donate to maintaining and birthing new Stars can send checks to the Fun Group at 673 Brentwood Drive, East, The Dalles, OR 97058.
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Available to everyone. Funded by readers. Our Thanks to Petra Van Kessel Ervin for capturing these great photos!
