Ringing in the new year with moments of ‘25 and thoughts for ‘26
By Tom Peterson and Joshuah Albert
The Dalles, Ore., Dec. 31, 2025 — As we draw near to the final curtain on 2025, we went out in search of reflections and hopes for the new year.
There was plenty to sift for most of us this last year as high points were often coupled with doing very hard things. The willingness to persevere through it all and hold out some hope and love, however, continues to inspire us here at CCCNews.
Here’s what your friends and neighbors told us.
Katie Liebenstine, 36, The Dalles
It's been a good year for her family. She works in health care.
"I'm happy that Sorosis Park was finished this year,” she said. “It feels like a much better sense of community with a better playground.
It has been a pretty stressful year in healthcare, but I'm hoping that I can continue to serve the community."
We rolled into Carrie who was selling carriage rides with her horse named Hemi at Fred Meyer's.
Carrie Swearingen, 61, the Dalles
"2025 was way to busy,” she said. “I have a small farm behind Dufur that was a constant up and down. I do a lot of selling at the farmers' market, and I had a real problem with ground squirrels this year. I have a lot of big plans for 2026.”
Doug and Jeff
Douglas Fox, 66, and Jeff Beck, 60, The Dalles
The pair paused their work along a fenceline on 7th Street Place Tuesday afternoon to reflect on the year coming to a close and the one ahead.
Fox said one of the most meaningful moments of 2025 was traveling across the country to see his mother in Connecticut before she died. Fox hopped a train to get there. He described the journey as long and demanding. But it was worth it.
“It’s a little bittersweet,” Fox said.
Looking ahead to 2026, Fox said he hopes to continue rebuilding his health after being diagnosed with a heart condition several years ago. He said his goals include regaining his skateboarding skills and continuing to play music. Fox plays guitar and bass and said creative outlets remain important to him.
Standing nearby, Jeff Beck, 60, said his highlight of 2025 was attending Burning Man for the first time in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada.
When asked what he was looking forward to in 2026, Beck initially said he had nothing planned.
“Nope. Nope. Nope,” he said.
After a pause, Beck said he wants to practice drums and get his motorcycles back in working order. He said he owns several bikes, including three road bikes he hopes to ride more in the coming year.
Josh Green, 21, The Dalles
Josh said one of his weekly highlights is a standing Friday tradition built around cards, strategy and community at Brick City & Games in downtown The Dalles.
Green said he regularly gathers with a group in the back room of the shop to play Magic: The Gathering, a game he described as both competitive and wholesome. Games typically last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how they unfold, and players stay as long as they want.
“Everybody has real fun,” Green said.
Looking ahead to 2026, Green said he is focused on a new chapter in his professional life. Recently hired as a tax preparer, he said he is looking forward to seeing how his first full tax season goes.
Jocelyn Hernandez, 26, The Dalles
For Jocelyn the standout moment of 2025 came today as a family milestone marked the end of a long working chapter for her grandfather.
Hernandez said Elias, retired this week, finishing his final day of work after years of being employed at the Dallesport Foundry.
“I'm excited for him to not have to work anymore,” she said.
Looking ahead, Hernandez said her family is planning a get together, giving relatives a chance to gather and celebrate.
Katie Alley, 38, The Dalles
For Katie one of the highlights of 2025 was a summer family trip.
Alley said she and her family took her two stepsons, ages 9 and 13 to Silverwood Theme Park near Couer d’ Alene, Idaho in July, giving them their first chance to experience a theme park.
"It was super fun to be able to just kind of wander around and let them experience the theme park for the first time," she said.
“One of them went all in,” Alley said, adding that her younger stepson decided after one ride that roller coasters were not for him — a feeling she said she shared.
Looking ahead to 2026, Alley said she does not have any major plans, but is hopeful for another good year. She joked that she would like to finally make progress on a reading list that has been growing for years.
