Local Bilingual Family Liaison, Julie Zapien, successfully organized a community fun run and taco feed event centered around celebrating Cesar. E. Chavez and bolstering Latin(e) family engagement at Colonel Wright School in The Dalles, OR. last March.

A local group of citizens has launched a campaign in a bid to gain community support around building a new high school in The Dalles. The events this weekend and website launch, VoteYESTDHS.org is an initiative of the Political Action Committee, North Wasco Strong Community Schools, and aims to build advocacy and rally community support around the goal for a new high school initiative.

People often come in and they’re very anxious and we are able to set their fears to rest. We have an absolutely no shame, no judgment zone. It’s just about their health and public health and safety and we just want everybody to get care, said Hanlon Wilde. 

Winners always pick the right team. Maybe it’s time to pick the Community Clean-up team on Saturday, April 8 at 10 a.m. It’s just two hours, and this group gets ‘r done. Want to join in? Meet at Thompson Park, 602 W. 2nd St., The Dalles

Columbia Land Trust and Hood River Valley Parks and Rec. is set to hold a ribbon-cutting event on Earth Day, April 22, to celebrate a new half-mile section of the Indian Creek Trail in Hood River. Towards the southern end, there is a nice viewpoint overlooking the Hood River. The land the trail is on adjoins the 400-acre Powerdale Natural Area, which Columbia Land Trust stewards for fish and wildlife habitat, public recreation, and tribal fishing access.

The Oregon Historical Society (OHS) is proud to host a free public program on Saturday, April 15, where scholars and community leaders will discuss the history of the Yasui Brothers’ Store in Hood River. The program will take place at 2 pm at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River and will be followed by a casual reception with light refreshments.

Lake Taco, a family owned Mexican restaurant in Hood River has re-opened in their new location and is doing better than ever, thanks to the gorge community rallying to raise over $48,000 in support of this local family and their made-fresh food.

A dozen teens and half as many adults from Hood River and The Dalles spent spring break in Costa Rica, working on a conservation project, learning about cacao and coffee production, coming face to face with wildlife, using their Spanish skills, and enjoying the beauty and hospitality of this Central American country.

The Dalles Kiwanis welcomes Bill Weiler an outdoor biologist and founder and member of the Board of Directors of Gorge Ecology Outdoors, an environmental education organization based in Hood River. He will speak about wildlife habitat and conservation in the Gorge.

A box of donated pollock can go a long way. It turned into a party at The Dalles Pallet Shelter on April 4. Who knew I would have a BBQ? That’s the joy in life. When you get up in the morning, you never know what might happen.

Jorge Valdez of The Dalles works on the beds in front of Casey Eye Institute on 7th Street in The Dalles this morning under overcast skies. Mother Nature is looking to prime the pump this weekend with showers predicted through Sunday in the area, but then breaking way to a week of mostly sunny days. Get the shades out and see if you can find that half-tube of sunscreen!

In an epic battle for the fate of Middle Earth, youth at The Dalles Wasco County Public Library recently gathered to face off against a formidable foe - a piñata Ring Wraith filled with ring-pops.

Students from three D21 Elementary Schools took to the kitchen yesterday, March 29th to compete for the coveted title of ‘Top Chef’. The Future Chefs Challenge, organized by Sodexo, the company that D21 contracts with to provide nutrition services has encouraged students to make healthy food choices and spark their interest in the culinary arts for the last decade.

From the high Rowena Crest Viewpoint east of Mosier, Riverside Community Church will celebrate the sunrise on Easter morning, Sunday, April 9, at 6:15 a.m., and then return to Riverside for breakfast, followed by morning worship at 10:30 a.m., and Easter Egg hunt after service.

“It was so worth it,” said Arianne Walker of fighting off the freezing cold in soaked jeans on Saturday, March 25, while washing dozens of cars in The Dalles. “We ended up raising with what Tara contributed from bagels and donations, we ended up with $3,500.”

Friends of Rojelio Castellanos saw a huge flow of vehicles as their car wash fundraiser was in full swing today, March 25. The money will go to Castallanos’ family after the 37-year-old body shop man at Underriner Ford in TD passed just a week ago after a stroke.

With the outpouring of community support, The Dalles Art Center is on track to be preserved. However they still need to raise $1,300 in recurring monthly donations to continue their operations.

Charlotte Edwards, a local woman who is blind, shares how Circles of Care, a program by Age+ which pairs seniors with local volunteers is making a difference in the lives of Seniors in our community.

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.