Put on your swim shorts and bathing suits and get ready for some free swimming in The Dalles and Hood River! The pools are offering free passes for families that have a financial need.

During this time of shut down, the Mid-Columbia Senior Center Board has come up with a list of facility improvement projects that are easier done now without our busy people traffic when The Center opens up. Read about them and the vendor fair for Saturday, June 5, here.

Health Officials have upped the ante on vaccinations. Any Wasco County resident who gets vaccinated at the mobile clinic in The Dalles will receive a $50 VISA card. Find out how here.

The Portland Comedy Film Festival will screen 200+ short comedy films at the gorgeous Sunshine Mill Winery located in The Dalles from June 10-13, 2021. Read more about it here.

TD Public Library Opens Back Up

The Dalles Kiwanis have a loaded schedule for its weekly programs this June. Lisa Commander, education director at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, and Andrea Klaas, executive director of Port of The Dalles, will be speaking in their areas of expertise. And then finish it off with a cool one with Steve Light from Freebridge Brewing. Check out the schedule here.

Over 200 local businesses took advantage of the free supplies.

Museum operators and floozies are back in business. The Queen of the West docked this morning at 10 a.m. and some 78 passengers disembarked for a tour of our little corner of the world. They had money to spend.

The Dalles organist Garry Estep will present a concert on the Phelps-d’Autremont pipe organ located at Zion Lutheran Church on Sunday, June 6 at 2 p.m.

The Dalles High School’s Drama Group this year has produced an original musical, Young Ben Snipes. The video will be live on Friday, May 21, 2021. The Musical captures the larger-than-life character of Ben Snipes, migrant, cattle-baron, and entrepreneur. Snipes is in the range of heroes that joins the company of famous honorees as Teddy Roosevelt and Will Rogers.

Mid-Columbia Senior Center, in partnership with Age+, is hosting a vaccine event on Saturday, May 22nd from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. that will feature music and ice cream.

Erin Peters takes us down a trail to some safer hiking with tips about what to do when encountering wildlife. Most of the time it ads to the adventure. But instead of fearing an encounter, put some information in your pocket about what to do. And then put on your boots and get out there.

The Dalles Rotary is hosting the Ballot Drive-Thru collection from 7 am - 8 pm on today, May 18 - the final day of the Election.

Multiple Vaccine Clinics to be Available This Week

Wasco County Elections Clerk Lisa Gambee had a challenge for voters this morning. “Make us work,” she said. “We spend our hard-earned tax dollars to send these ballots out. Drop them off,” she said.

Dry Hollow Elementary Teacher Ms. Emily Stewart puckered up last Friday, May 14, when she made good on a deal with students to kiss a pig in a fundraiser to purchase trees for Sorosis Park. The drive brought in $3,000, a record for the school. But Ms. Stewart had to pay the piper with this 500-pound sow. Maybe next year, they should kiss the piglet?

Debbie Hendrickx has moved her operation to The Dalles and is busy sweetening up the lives of dogs everywhere with a ‘Swell’ new gelato that’s just for the dogs.

Ceramics as well as throwing a little clay will be happening at The Dalles Art Center this Saturday, May 15 as the gallery showcases its market of incredible pieces brought about by a collaboration of local and regional artists. As expected, five local artists were included in Beyond the Construct: Penny Wallace, Yvonne Wakefield, Savannah Lawton, Tom Bottman, and Jonathan Kranzley. While you're at it, check out the incredible flowers and the newly refurbished floor. Gorrrrrrrrgeous!

Colonel Wright Elementary’s Ramona Harwood directs the “Marimba Pioneers” in her front yard near the Elementary School on Thursday, May 13.

A line quickly formed at the Rivertap for the inaugural “Take a Bite Out of COVID” mobile vaccine event May 7. The next event is planned for May 21, with details to follow.