Thanksgiving is multicultural and families from different cultures have put their own spin on the holiday with bold flavors, authentic ingredients, and recipes that have been in the family for generations.

The Dalles Community Thanksgiving Meal aims to feed some 700 on Thursday as volunteers are prepping, stirring and cooking for the big day. The annual feed will be different this year with the community meal being replaced with take-out and home delivery. Volunteers are still needed.

Like the gathering of family at the holidays, an old friend will return to us this Friday when a young boy will light the Woolsey Christmas tree east of Sorosis Park the day after Thanksgiving.

Thanks, COVID... No, really! No sarcasm here. If you ask people how COVID-19 has negatively impacted their lives, they could undoubtedly list off a slew of examples. So what about when people were asked about how COVID-19 has positively impacted their 2020 year?

To prepare for the City of Hood River’s annual work plan session early in 2021, City Council seeks community input and ideas on priority projects to help achieve City Council’s goals for the community. Community members are invited to contribute ideas via a print questionnaire or online form.

While an inversion has The Dalles under some thick gray this morning, Sol made a spectacular showing on Friday afternoon. This photo was shot from State Route 14 at 3:30 p.m., looking south toward Mount Hood. While were a bit gray this morning, it is a good time to check out The Radio Play Disaster on Demand by The Dalles High School Drama Department. Click here for link.

Klickitat County Sherriff Bob Songer and Washington State Governor Jay Insee are once again singing a different tune when it comes to COVID-19 restrictions in Klickitat County.

Here's our 2-Minute weekly update to keep you informed in the Mid-Columbia Region. November 20th, 2020.

Bud Hut near Murdock was hit a second time by burglars on Friday, Nov. 20. Three male suspects were caught on a surveillance camera destroying the service door with a sludge hammer during the forced entry. Once inside, they stole thousands of dollars in marijuana and cannabis edibles. The Klickitat County Sheriff’s office was still investigating the case on Friday evening.

This wonderfully hilarious production from the comfort of your own home

Sadly, a resident of the Oregon Veterans’ Home who contracted COVID-19 on Oct. 25 passed away on Nov. 16. That marks the 18th death in Wasco County from COVID-19. An outbreak was first reported at the Oregon Veterans’ Home on Oct. 25, and 13 cases are connected to it, including staff, residents and household contacts of staff.

Several reports of tire slashings in downtown The Dalles were reported on the 8th, 16th, and 17th of this month. Police have taken photos of all vehicles involved but report no suspect info at this time. Threatening messages reading “GET OUT X” were also left on the doors of the five Commodore residents whose tires were slashed, leaving many afraid to return to their homes.

With the rapid spike in COVID-19 cases in Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown demanded gyms and fitness studios to close their doors tomorrow, November 18th. Local gym owners are concerned about the future of their businesses, several saying they are on the brink of closure. They also fear for the mental health of their club members and their workers who will go unpaid.

Last Saturday The Yarrow School of Collective Wellness hosted a ‘Transliterate’ ZOOM workshop. The workshop was geared towards helping cisgender* people deepen their understanding, care, and relationships with transgender people. The workshop kicked off Transgender Awareness Week in the Columbia River Gorge, which takes place from November 13th-19th and culminates in Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20th.

He has touched hundreds of thousands of people, said Kasey Buckles. Some of the most recognizable programs in our area that prop people up came under his command. What will follow his 43 plus years at the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council, Inc.? Only Jim Slusher knows.

Wasco County had 23 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, with 17 coming on Saturday. There are no new large outbreaks in the county at this time that meet the threshold of public reporting (five or more cases at businesses with 30 or more employees). Rather, a majority of Saturday’s 17 reported cases were due to family get-togethers. This falls in line with what is being seen throughout Oregon: Social gatherings are a driver in COVID transmission.

Washington Gorge Action Programs is participating in GivingTuesday for the first time this year in an effort to highlight everyone who makes the agency successful, and it will be setting a new goal to raise $50,000 for the Covid-19 Relief Fund which will all go directly back to support Skamania and Klickitat County residents in need.

Is there anything more satisfying than coming out of the cold and filling yourself with a blend of vegetables or meat and broth that gets tastier with each following spoonful until you are looking at the bottom of a bowl and a haze invades your brain - an inexplicable sleepy warm bliss like a baby being cradled? Total security can reside in that pot, if just for a short while.

“The Radio Play Disaster” will be available to watch online at Broadway On Demand on November 13th-14th, and November 20th-21st ONLY and tickets are AVAILABLE NOW. To order yours follow the link. Money from the play will go to funding future high school drama productions.

Columnist Jim Drake takes a look at local entertainment- online and off. Two drink minimum required before entering. Mark Daly, Hapa Hillbillies, Granada Theatre, Freebridge Brewing, Bargeway Pub, Mandolin Camp, Lesley Saunders