Read the poetry of Cole Goodwin in this week’s local poetry spotlight.

In less than an hour a class of rank Harp beginners were cranking out tunes like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” a free-form piece called “Medevil Drone,” “Greensleeves,” and more. The class was full - with every age group represented.

Watch for the first Cherry Fest queen at the annual parade slated for 10 a.m. in The Dalles on Saturday, April 23. The parade starts at Sixth and Webber streets (Burger King) and flows east down Third Street in downtown before heading north on Monroe Street at Optimist Printers and then returning west on Second Street to the U.S. Post office.

Julien Whitney, 23, of Yakama was up and at ‘em this morning, April 21, setting the stage for Rainier Amusements carnival on First Street downtown The Dalles. The carnival will be running Friday through Sunday for Cherry Fest.

This weekend and upcoming weeks are loaded with entertainment at River City Saloon, The Dalles Eagles, TD Library, Bingen Theater, Granada, Bargeway Pub, Working Hands Beer, Everybody’s Brewing, Grateful Vineyard, Double Mountain, Zim’s, The Ruins, The Pines, 64 Taphouse, HR Elks.

Sarah Cook reveals the simple steps to printmaking after a crash course with Maggie Middleton, Apprentice Printer at Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts in Pendleton, who gave the demonstration at The Dalles Art Center. Check it out. Maybe it’s time for you to gouge away.

Read the poetry of Judy Bankman in this weeks local poetry spotlight.

Entertainment abounds this month with shows on tap at Working Hands Beer, Zim’s, Bargeway, Ruins, TD Civic, Grateful Vineyard, Everybody’s Brewing, Easter Bunny, Mid-Columbia Car Club Cruise-in, Double Mountain, River City Saloon, Cider Fest, Paint Night, Rockford Grange Hall, Granada, TD Library.

Darcelle XV & Co. will perform two evening drag shows at Route 30 in The Dalles on Monday, April 11th, to sold out crowds.

Jeff Carrell celebrates his Birthday today, April 9, after an epic show with friends at Zim’s Brau Haus on Friday night. It was so great to see a four-piece putting screws through the rock again. Carrell, Victor Johnson Jeff Minnick and Kenny Olsen put together a 2-hour jam on Friday with some dark play on Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline. Happy 57th Jeff!

This week’s local poetry spotlight features a poem by Rebecca Sonniksen, which was inspired by her daughter Sofia.

“It has helped me to process things when I’ve submitted my own stuff,” Colleen Ballinger said about her occasional contributions to the Poetree, which change in response to seasons and current events and depending on the amount of work she receives from others, including strangers.

Columnist Jim Drake takes you through music, culture and entertainment options at Zims, Route 30, The Pines, TD Civic, 64 Taphouse, Granada, HR Library, Bargeway Pub, Thunder Island, Everybody’s Brewing, MoCo, Double Mountain, Grateful Vineyard, Easter Bunny, River City Saloon, Wine Tasting, TD Eagles, Cider Fest.

Join Mt. Adams Institute for a Sense of Place lecture on, Forests, Wildfire, Timber Wars and Finding Common Ground, the lecture will me a panel discussion featuring Jay McLaughlin, Emily Platt, Susan Jane Brown, Les Perkins, which will be moderated by Sense of Place host/curator, Sarah Fox. on April 13th, 2022, at 7 p.m.

Many stopped by the “Love Where You Live” First Friday event to meet local artists, bakers, musicians, jewelry makers, artisan foods and photographers who “popped up” inside downtown shops, restaurants, and bars for the evening to sell their goods and chat with customers.

Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story is as emotionally captivating as it is breathtaking to behold. The singing, dancing, acting, and direction all come together in a nearly perfect union to bring an old story into the present.

Things are popping this weekend as live music and First Friday events in both The Dalles and Hood River offer up some fun entertainment and dance opportunities. So, no singing the blues; put on your dancing shoes.

Happy Trans Day of Visibility from all of us at CCCNews! This Trans Day of Visibility we’re showcasing five poems from local transgender poet Keath Silva’s latest book of poetry, Lady Death, and other poems venerating change.

Varsity baseball plays host to Forest Grove Tuesday, March 29, at Bob Williams Field at the Q, first pitch is slated for 5 p.m. We’d also like to welcome our new volunteers to the Riverhawks’ baseball family, as Ray Bustos is serving as our PA announcer, and TDHS Ski Coach Dane Klindt will be running scoreboard.

The City of Maupin and more specifically several rafting guides from competing rafting companies will be featured in a new series on Discovery Plus, slated to air on Wednesday, March 30. And it looks raucous from the trailer. Check it out here.