Living Well: I just dropped in... (On the benefits of support groups)

One evening, as my co-leader and I closed a group meeting for family caregivers, I reminded those in attendance that one of the major benefits of participation in any support group is the opportunity it creates to simply check in with ourselves on a regular basis— to pause, to listen to our own thoughts and feelings and experiences, and to give voice to them— when that is often the one thing there is not time for in the midst of the sometimes all-consuming experience of caregiving itself. “Oh!” said one man in attendance, “It’s like the line in that song: ‘I just dropped in the see what condition my condition was in.’”

Your Gorge Guide to Pride 2024: Speed Friending, Drag Brunch, Game Nights, Dance Parties and more!

The Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance has unveiled their “30 Days of Gay” event schedule for LGBTQIA2S Pride Month, with a variety of events from book clubs to dance parties; game nights to lego builds; trivia to drag shows, there’s something for introverts and extroverts! No matter where you are on the rainbow spectrum. There’s even a “Speed Friending” event for those who want a little help forging new connections with other LGBTQIA2S+ folx in the gorge!

The Freedom Sisters Roadshow: Creating Purpose in Upcycled Functional Art

The fourth exhibit of 2024 at The Dalles Art Center (TDAC) is “Don’t Throw It Away, Baby! Up-cycled Function Art by Barbara Kilkenny, Abigail Kaehler, Denise Jiminez, and Jan Byrkit.” Fondly known as the Freedom Sisters Road Show, these four artists have been friends and artistic peers for decades through multiple life stages including marriage, raising children, and the operations of family life.

Riverhawks State Track & Field Championships, Setting Records and Making Memories

Last weekend, 14  Riverhawks competed in their final events of the season at the State Track & Field meet at UofO. Compared to Districts, racing conditions in Eugene were about perfect: clear, cool, and with that special dose of “Hayward magic” on the track. Somewhere between magic and hard work, many saw PRs and competitive placings: a satisfying close to a great season.