Kids participating in SMART Reading programs have the opportunity to read each book and cast their vote in person. This year, for the first time ever, SMART is opening up the contest to all children in Oregon. Kids can read the selected titles and cast their votes at https://bit.ly/BookAward2023 until midnight on Sunday, Feb. 26. 

Victorino Rodriguez beat the cold this morning, Feb. 24, as he lit off a long line of cherry wood pruned from McClaskey Orchards next to Highway 197 just south of Auction Sales Company in The Dalles. The 39-year-old from The Dalles warms his back here in this photo. He originally hails from the state of Durango, Mexico, where average temperatures range in the 70s during the day and the 30s at night in February. Check here to see what the weekend weather looks like.

There will be a public reception to present the awards on Friday, March 3 at 6:00 pm at The Dalles Art Center, 220 E. 4th Street.  The public is welcome to attend and learn about this year’s grant recipients, their projects, the WCCTC, and the Oregon Cultural Trust. Find out who received grants here.

The Columbia Gorge wine region grew from one winery in 1980 to 40 in a 20-year period.  Much of the credit for this growth is due to the work of Saturday’s speaker, Lonnie Wright.

This Saturday night, Feb. 11th celebrates the return of Tommy and Saundra O’Sullivan to Old St. Peter’s Landmark. Currently, on a west coast US tour, the O’Sullivans bring songs and stories from the west coast of Ireland. 

Wonderworks Children’s Museum is up and running again and the agencies future is looking brighter than ever thanks to multiple grant awards totaling $110,000.  

This year more children in Hood River and Wasco Counties will start the year with books thanks to First Book of Hood River and Wasco County. Keep reading to find out how to recieve books or particpate in this years challenge for local book clubs.

TD Kiwanis February Programs — Feb. 2 speaker is Amanda Lawrence from Next Door.— Feb. 9 Wasco County Clerk Lisa Gambee will give a presentation about elections. — Feb. 16 Beatriz Lynch of Safe Space will explain the Hood River program that hopes to expand to The Dalles.

The eagles have landed! Join U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) park rangers at The Dalles Dam Visitor Center Jan. 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., to catch a glimpse of bald eagles that congregate near the dam every winter in search of food.

Pattie Blagg said that the Dancing with the Gorge Stars had “its best crowd ever” on Friday January 13th, 2023. Now in its 9th season this production from Mid-Columbia Community Concert Association has really mastered that art of putting the ‘fun’ in fun-draising with an opening dance routine by The Dalles Dazzling Dancers, seven competitors of varying levels of skill, and professional dance performances from the Utah Ballroom Dance Company. 

This year's winning grant recipients demonstrated a commitment to equity, expanding access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) or STEAM (STEM plus Arts) opportunities, cost-effectiveness, and the potential to create a lasting impact for local students. 

CCCNew’s Jim Drake interviews Irish Roots Band Kalos. The trio goes deep into how they make their music and what influences them and most importantly who gets to carry the accordion.

Poker Tournament and Silent Auction on tap at Bargeway Pub as locals pull together to fundraise for Luis Flores who has been stricken with debilitating medical issues. The event is set for Saturday, Jan. 14 at the Bargeway event site on the west side of the restaurant and pub. Read here for more details.

Columbia Gorge Community College distributed 75 Dell laptops to 10 public libraries in the college’s service area thanks to funding from the US Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

In this edition of her column Living Well, Donna Henderson, LCSW, psychotherapist, artist and writer based in Maupin, South Wasco County shares the downlow on how shame might be holding you back from success and tips on how to set successful New Year’s Resolutions.

— Jan. 19 Carina Miller, the first indigenous chair of the Columbia River Gorge Commission, will speak about her work with the commission and various groups dealing with Native American issues. — Jan. 26 Lucille Begay, Native American Liaison at Columbia Gorge Educational Service District, will discuss land acknowledgments.

If you are looking for a way to make a difference in your community, you might want to consider becoming a volunteer with Circles of Care to help older adults in your area. Circles of Care will host an informational meeting for interested volunteers on Tuesday, January 10th at 1:00 p.m. at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center in The Dalles, OR.

CGOA’s Stages Musical Theatre is gearing up for this season’s production of Little Shop of Horrors, one of the most popular Broadway musicals of all time. Auditions for the May, 2023 performances are Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 7 and 8 at 1 p.m. at the Bingen Theater. 

Christmas week at Riverside Community Church, United Church of Christ in Hood River begins with a Thursday Longest Night campfire and ends with a Christmas Day worship service. Check out the details here.