Columbia Community Connection News presents a new weekly roundup of honest local news. Featuring The Dalles' own Yahaira Alvarez, CCC's newest video journalist.

The Dalles Artist Chris Pothier began installation of the All Together The Dalles Mural at 811 E. Second Street this morning. The mural is a painting of a photomontage of iconic buildings in The Dalles area that are stacked into a mountain within the landscape of The Dalles. Everything seems out of place giving our historic places and landscape an entirely different look and, perhaps, appreciation.

Al Hare is gigging through the virus, but he has had to flex his style. He now focuses on solo and duo performances to accommodate changes at music venues. He has also christened The Dalles “Little Music City” based on the high ratio of music venues per capita in his hometown.

The last HISTORY missives were way back in February, when we had five well-attended Regional History Forum programs at the Original Courthouse. The last MUSIC announcement was for the Cascade Singers’ “St. Pat’s at St. Pete’s” event that never happened— you'll recall that March 17, 2020 was the very day everything closed down because of COVID-19. We’re still in the precautionary stages re: the virus. But some things are happening. So get out your calendar and check some links and prepare to find out what’s happening.

“Friends, Family, Columbia Gorge Community & Extended Relations! Let's watch a movie together~ Gather up your quaran-team and pass around the popcorn!” reads the posting of a facebook event being hosted here in the Gorge.

On October 12th, 2020 a free online screening of GATHER, a powerful documentary about the reclamation of Native Food Sovereignty is being hosted by Kenji Stasiewicz and Sullivan Mackintoch in honor of Indigenous People’s Day.

Dreaming of epic pow turns? Well, it's that time of year to pull your skis and boards out of the closet. The resorts on Mount Hood have been working to create a fun and safe season ahead for guests and staff alike. Be prepared for what’s to come this year before driving up to your favorite ski resort.

The Sunshine Mill Winery will be hosting film festivals and 3 nights of Halloween themed movies for the month of October. They have converted their gavel lot into a drive-in movie theater equipped with a gigantic viewing screen. The drive up movies at the mill can host around 40 cars, tickets run about $30 a car for each day or each night session of the film festivals and $20 a car for the Halloween movie nights. Add on Snack packages are available for the Halloween movies, costing $10 which includes a soda, popcorn, candy, and a hotdog.

We are now seven months into a global pandemic and you may have figured out ways to cope and process. We are also at the point where maybe your coping mechanism is starting to lose its effectiveness. Getting out to enjoy nature or tending to a garden can be a new way for you to prioritize your wellness and shift your focus. It can also help you prevent bad energy in your life.

The Dalles Wasco County Public Library is raffling off Book Boxes for Latinx Heritage month.

A wild Hop plant caught growing alongside Mill Creek. Hops are typically used in beer making, these little nodes are used primarily as a bittering, flavoring, and stability agent. Most of the floral and citrus flavors found in beer are due to hops. Beer making isn’t the only use for these little green puff balls, when steeped as a tea, hops can aid in digestion, due to their anti-inflammatory effects. The oils from hops also make a great agent in soaps, and candles due to their pleasant aromas they give off!

The Dalles Main Street is hosting a virtual raffle this fall 2020, with the raffle being a 25%/75% split with one grand prize winner taking home up to $5,000 . Five Second place winners will receive a limited edition, 2020 The Dalles Main Street hoodie, designed by local artist Denae Manion

The Powell Brothers band is set to hit The Dalles this Friday, Aug. 14, at the Bargeway Pub, and the Kingwood Texas Trio plan on laying down some licks with their original set. Free of charge.