Happy International Forest Day from Columbia Community Connection News! We are proud to announce that we have planted 100 trees in celebration of International Forest Day this March 21st, 2023! The trees have been purchased through a donation to OneTreePlanted.org who will soon plant the trees in a deforested area of Oregon where they will play a crucial role in maintaining the health and well-being of the planet.

The Northwest Muralfest’s final mural was installed at 408 w 4th St The Dalles 4th St in The Dalles ,today, March 21st. To celebrate the the completion of the project, The Northwest MuralFest has announced the premiere of the The Dalles MuralFest Walldogs Movie that was made to document the event.

The Dalles is a town of about 16,000. It's impossible for me to know even 10% of the people living around me. How can I create a personal tribe within a population too big for my mind to track? 

A free, 2-day walk-in vaccine clinic is scheduled this Friday and Saturday, March 17 and 18, from 11 a.m. to 6  p.m. each day, at 523 E. 3rd St., The Dalles. 

The Dalles Cascade Singers and The-Almost-All-Irish-Almost-All-Brass-Band present the annual St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser at St. Peter’s Landmark. This annual event collects donations to benefit the historic St. Peter’s Landmark located at the corner of Lincoln and 3rd Streets. Official festivities commence Friday, March 17th, at 7:00 P.M.

Seventh-Graders at The Dalles Middle School took in some local history today, March 14 as local docents expounded on the history of people featured in the new murals painted in the downtown corridor.

Krista Cushman’s Guide to Spring Mushrooms community place based education presentation drew quite the crowd to the Hood River County Library Reading Room on Saturday, March 11th, at 2 p.m.

The Dalles-Wasco County Library hosted a hobbit-approved breakfast event on Saturday, March 11th, in celebration of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novel, The Hobbit. The event, titled "Second Breakfast", was a part of the library's two-month long celebration of the book, and brought together families, friends, and individuals from the community to enjoy a morning of fun and food.

Step into the journey to the Wizard of Oz!  The Dalles Civic Auditorium will have four performances for you to join in on the events of Dorothy and her friends' travels. 

The first series will be held Mondays, 10am-noon at Rufus City Hall: March 20, March 27, April 3, April 10, April 17, April 24. The second series will be held Tuesdays, 6 pm-8 pm at the Sherman County Senior Center in Moro.

“The board is committed to conducting an equitable, inclusive, and transparent national search that will attract a strong and diverse pool of candidates from throughout Oregon and the nation,” said board chair Tim Arbogast.

The Dalles-Wasco County Public Library is gearing up for an exciting month of activities centered around J.R.R. Tolkien's prequel to "The Lord of the Rings," "The Hobbit." From March 1st to April 29th, visitors of all ages can enjoy a variety of events that celebrate the beloved fantasy novel.

The Lewis and Clark Festival Park in The Dalles, OR was abuzz with excitement today as Dutch Bros Coffee, a businesses known for its fun-loving vibe, hosted a special pop-up for puppers event today from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.. The event, which also takes place on Thursday, March 9th, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., was aimed at giving back to the community and spreading some joy.

Pedro Garcia is a kind man with a big heart. His path in life has led him to become a Community Health Worker with Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP). It’s a role he had never envisioned, but he loves it.

Zoe Dunn, a senior at The Dalles High School, with aspirations in dentistry was signed by Eastern Washington University yesterday February 28th, 2023. Dunn’s coaches, parents, friends and teammates all attended the signing.

Mar. 2 speaker is Deidre Baumgarten on opportunities to serve through Scouting programs. Mar. 9 speaker is Amanda Lawrence from Next Door. Feb. 16 Kevin Greenwood from Port of Hood River will address the H.R. Bridge project. Mar. 23 Columbia Bank managers Carmen Myers and Rod Cole will talk about what’s happening in banking and their bank’s merger with Umpqua Bank.

Van Nevel Concrete & Curb, Inc. will be installing ADA ramps in various area's throughout the City of The Dalles from March 1st to June 1st, Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-5 p.m. 

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.