The first day of fall arrived this past week. Out in the orchard, the mornings carry a chill, the sky deepens to that September blue, and the seasons shift once again. Farming teaches you that change is certain — the blossoms of spring give way to summer fruit, and autumn reminds us that nothing stays forever.

On the latest CCCNews Podcast, Executive Director and co-founder Kiara Kashubs described how the Gorge Farmer Collective started in March 2020, when farmers suddenly lost access to restaurants and markets. What began with five farms experimenting with an online marketplace has since expanded to more than 35 producers serving families, schools, food banks, and restaurants across Hood River, White Salmon, The Dalles, Mosier, and Lyle.

Since 1981, the United States has recognized October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. That’s 44 years of uniting people from all walks of life to end domestic violence. This year’s theme, promoted by the Domestic Violence Awareness Project, “With survivors, ALWAYS,” showcases that survivors deserve safety, support, and solidarity.

The plan was for the rescue dog I’d chosen to be crammed in a crate and driven by van from Texas to The Dalles. The first text message I received from the Mutts and Meows Rescue in Missouri City, Texas, said they were departing from Texas on Sunday, then it was changed to Monday morning, then to late Monday afternoon. After a flurry of text messages, they reported the van left on Monday evening.

The City of White Salmon will begin roadwork at the intersection of NE Estes Avenue and NE Spring Street starting Tuesday, October 1, 2025. The work is expected to last approximately one week, weather and soil conditions permitting.

Beginning Monday, November 3, at 8:00 a.m., Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) will begin taking calls to schedule appointments for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for low-income residents in Skamania and Klickitat counties who need assistance paying their heating bills.

Not long ago, we talked about how fragile America’s food system has become. Farmers and ranchers face growing challenges — from water regulations and rising input costs to corporate consolidation and uncertain markets. Yet one thing hasn’t changed: when farmers and rural communities stand together, we are stronger.

Youth programs are the focus of White Salmon-Bingen Rotary Club Foundation’s fourth annual Koroga fundraiser. The event will be held on Sunday, October 5, at a private residence on top of Strawberry Mountain overlooking the Columbia River Gorge from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The club hopes to raise $15,000.

Mt. Adams Institute’s Sense of Place event  series returns this fall with its 16th season. The season will launch with Woven in Place: A Rancher’s Journey from Sheep to Fashion and the Olympics on October 8 at Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River, OR. 

Not long ago, America was the breadbasket of the world. Our fields and orchards fed not only our own people, but millions overseas. When ships left the Pacific Northwest loaded with cherries, apples, wheat, and pears, we knew the world was waiting for what we grew.

On 9/6/2025 Deputies responded to a “psychotic episode” call. It was reported to them that the subject of the call, a 27-year-old male, had kicked his mother and was allegedly high on drugs including LSD, Ketamine and a large amount of Marijuana.

Not that long ago—within the lifetime of folks still living in Wasco and Sherman Counties—the farm fields echoed with the steady clop of draft horses. Harness jingled at dawn, sweat darkened their hides by noon, and at day’s end the team pulled the wagon home. It was the rhythm of farm life.

The much-anticipated Stevenson Mushroom Festival returns for its second year, promising a weekend of mushroom-themed adventure, culinary delights, and community celebration in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge.

Prevention organizations in Klickitat County are coming together to host free events for parents, focusing on creating tech-healthy families. K-Link Collaborative, Our Klickitat Prevention Coalition, and the Coalition Preventing Abuse in Klickitat County (CPAKC) work to create safe teen cultures, safe spaces, and community education in efforts to reduce youth access to substances throughout Klickitat County.

The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office announced the addition of new staff members and the upcoming swearing-in of its newest K-9, marking a period of growth and expanded services for the department.

Columbia River Gorge, OR & WA. Born during the early days of the pandemic, the Gorge Farmer Collective (GFC) has become a trusted local food source for hundreds of families, allowing customers to source local foods from dozens of farms online with one easy click.

Thoughts from the Tractor Seat: A Timeline of Trouble, How Our Farms Got Here

For the fourth year in a row, the Washington side of the Gorge will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month with El Grito, a cultural celebration open to all community members. Admission is free and the event will be held on Sunday, September 14, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Rheingarten Park in White Salmon. 

It pains me to read about people starving in countries in Africa and in Gaza. News is overwhelming. Besides human suffering, many pets are devastated. Local posts on Facebook and other social media do a noble job of alerting us to lost pets or those needing new homes.

Construction is set to begin the week of August 18 (delayed from the intended start day of July 28) on critical water infrastructure upgrades along Spring Street and North Main Avenue. This work marks the start of the North Main Booster Pump Station Project, a major investment in White Salmon’s water system designed to improve both everyday water service and emergency fire flow capacity for residents in the North Main/Simmons Road pressure zone.