Project ELFF could use a little of Santa’s magic tonight in the form of canned food, dry goods and cold hard cash. Firefighters will have their lights flashing at local schools as well as at fire stations in Columbia View Heights as well as West The Dalles. They will be collecting between 6 and 9 p.m.

Dakota Weitman of Hood River Sand, Gravel & Ready Mix performs an air test on a batch of concrete in east The Dalles this morning, Wednesday, Dec. 2. Weitman, a quality control supervisor, said, the test ensures that there is enough air in the concrete so that water can freeze and thaw in the mix without doing damage.

Clear skies and cold temps brought a good frost and icy streets this morning in The Dalles. Be careful taking your first steps on this Tuesday, Dec. 1. I made the mistake of trying to walk through the bark for traction and put my foot in a nice little dog treat. But I still came to work. Win! Be careful the rest of this week as forecasters are calling for clear skies with lows of 28 and highs of 43 for the next five days. It is also nonprofit Tuesday where people are encouraged to give to their local charities - there are more than 150 to choose from in the Mid-Columbia Area.

A little Christmas spirit had Tom and Lindsey Giamei putting up this DIY tree on the side of their business, The Workshop at 201 E. 2nd St. this morning, Black Friday, Nov. 27. The couple is also supporting the Festival of Trees program, inviting community members to decorate an ornament for a donation that will help support the Celilo Cancer Center at Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles.

US postal deliveries this week have already rivaled volume during the week before Christmas last year. Our hats are off to our mail carriers this Thanksgiving. This also reminds us to shop local whenever possible. Like Dean Dollarhide said in a letter to the editor last week, we all need to support our neighbors and friends as we push into the new year as we hope for new beginnings and greater health for all.

The pandemic for your friends and neighbors who were already struggling with poverty, food insecurity, abusive relationships have become almost unbearable. Read more here about one local woman's struggle and how you and The Next Door can help.

The Dalles Kiwanis Programs for December.

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.

John Schacher, 52, with Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation gives the Kubota and Cyclone Rake a workout this morning at City Park in The Dalles. Frosts like the one last night tend to gum things up in the leaf removal game. Forecasters are calling for 28 degrees Fahrenheit Saturday morning with the high around 50.

Emilio Portillo, 18, did a little fishing this morning, Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Taylor Lake before his online classes started at The Dalles High School. The senior said he got to the lake at 8 a.m. and went with some weights and a worm. He said he planned to switch to Power Bait a bit later, noting he believed the lake had recently been stocked with trout.

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.

Cascade Singers won’t be singing this Christmas. They’ll be humming. Christmas “Hum-Along" with limited seating and COViD-19 precautions takes place Friday, Dec. 11, Saturday, Dec. 12, and Sunday, Dec. 13 at Zion Lutheran Church, 10th and Union Streets in The Dalles.

“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.

Mike Pincock, 41, of The Dalles, ties a piece of rebar to a screw while prepping a home site for a foundation on East 19th Street in The Dalles on Thursday. Pincock and Jimmie Ramsey were working on the sight in preparation for pouring concrete later on this month.

Likely the most recognizable building in The Dalles, Old St. Peter’s Landmark got a sprucing up on Monday, Nov. 9 with the help of The Dalles High School Honor Society. Maybe this inspires you to a bit of your own yard work. There is no better time. Residential customers can dump yard debris at The Dalles Disposal transfer station during November at no cost. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday Through Friday.

On Oct. 15 Portland General Electric (PGE) permanently shut down Oregon's last coal-fired power plant located in Boardman. The plant was built in 1980 and ever since has caused alarm for environmentalists and gained the attention of regional media due to it being one of the largest single sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the state.

Sense of Place, a program of Mt. Adams Institute, invites Gorge locals of all ages, both English and Spanish speaking, to share some of their unique life experiences. The program is connecting people from all over the Columbia Gorge with Dear Neighbor, a letter-exchange project that invites those living in the Gorge to write a letter to someone they’ve never met.

John Coats braved the rain this morning, Friday, Nov. 6, making this nice climb up Dry Hollow Road. More rain is expected through the day and then dry out tonight. Temps are supposed to dip this weekend with the low on Sunday in the 20s. Make sure to check out CCC News Let’s Talk tonight. It’s our 2-minute news roundup with entertainment highlights with Yahaira Alvarez.

With brushes in-hand, Kiwanis members spent the beautiful afternoon enjoying the camaraderie and sealing picnic tables and benches at the barbecue area at Sorosis Park. The project has been long-needed at the popular gathering site. The service provided a huge boost to Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation, which received hundreds of hours of free labor.

Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation (NWPRD) have big plans in store for Thompson Park Skate Park in The Dalles. This morning a two-man crew out of Missouri worked to install the first section of the park's upgrade. Two brightly colored rails, a curb spine, and two bench ledges went in today. But that’s just the beginning.