In recent days Susan Gabay has made a $200,000 donation to an effort to put a mental health center at The Dalles High School. She wants there to be something that helps kids and families of kids with mental illness to have a safe place to go.

The Dalles High School’s Drama Group this year has produced an original musical, Young Ben Snipes. The video will be live on Friday, May 21, 2021. The Musical captures the larger-than-life character of Ben Snipes, migrant, cattle-baron, and entrepreneur. Snipes is in the range of heroes that joins the company of famous honorees as Teddy Roosevelt and Will Rogers.

Fun and learning delivered! Play & Learn is giving away free arts and craft supplies and bilingual activity boxes to families in Wasco, Hood River, Sherman, Gilliam, and Wheeler Counties to help parents and kids fill their time with fun and educational activities.

Dry Hollow Elementary Teacher Ms. Emily Stewart puckered up last Friday, May 14, when she made good on a deal with students to kiss a pig in a fundraiser to purchase trees for Sorosis Park. The drive brought in $3,000, a record for the school. But Ms. Stewart had to pay the piper with this 500-pound sow. Maybe next year, they should kiss the piglet?

It’s not a typical high school project, but little is at Riverbend Community School on the Columbia Gorge Community College Campus. “We get to do projects and work with our hands,” said Blake Darr of the landscape project. “It’s a lot better than reading textbooks all day.”

Colonel Wright Elementary’s Ramona Harwood directs the “Marimba Pioneers” in her front yard near the Elementary School on Thursday, May 13.

The Dalles High School 2021 Scholarship Recipients

Dry Hollow principal Ajay Rundell spurred donations when he came to school in this pig costume. Students at the school raised thousands of dollars for trees at Sorosis Park in a Kiss the Pig fundraiser.

North Wasco County School District 21 is well on its way towards the long-term goal of a health center at The Dalles High School. With the help of grants, the ESD is working with school districts in Wasco and Hood River counties to figure out how to provide more school-based treatable mental health care.

It’s a tough job. And what job worth doing is easy?

Fostering children intends to give a whole new outlook on life, one where a child can learn to love themselves as well as others, find success, and swell a foster parent’s heart with pride.

Yahir Santillan-Guzman sat at his computer two weeks ago. He set his iPhone to video and set it at the base of the screen. The 18-year-old senior at The Dalles High School was awaiting a message. From Harvard. Did he get in? Read more.

Mark your calendars and be ready to bid on great items starting Tuesday, May 4 through May 11, as Columbia Gorge Community Foundation hosts “Saddle Up and Celebrate,” one of two annual scholarship fundraisers. The need is high as there is currently only enough funding for half of the 70 students applying for scholarships.

But finally, on Monday, April 19th, Riverbend Community School will be open to on-site learning for local students at the Columbia Gorge Community College campus. Students who don’t have success in larger traditional schools may find it here. They are currently enrolling students.

From D21 Interim Super speaking on the reopening of schools to wildlife Biologist Bill Weiler and the proposed Ulka trail are all hot topics at The Dalles Kiwanis Thursday meetings. Check it out here.

Good Jobs await skilled workers. Thus CGCC has put together an advanced manufacturing class for this summer. Students will learn blueprint reading, manufacturing processes, technical mathematics, tube and pipe fabrication and repair, stainless steel welding, design processes, aluminum welding, sheet metal fabrication, basic machining practices. Learn more here.

Throughout April and May, staff has planned a variety of virtual events with the goal of sharing the proposed revisions and providing opportunities for public input. This includes virtual open houses, Ask the Planner events, Planning Commission work sessions, and presentations.

Seniors Courtney Hert, Zara Voodre, Hanani Andrade, Kierstin White, Iliana Moreno-Lopez, and Cadence Snyder had their last match in front of a hometown crowd. And it was physical.

The legends and myths from Mount Olympus will be presented in April once you get access to the “key.” There are activities for all ages in this month’s newsletter. Read more.