“It isn’t what a man has that constitutes wealth. No—it is to be satisfied with what one has; that is wealth.”
MOUNTAIN VENUES with MENUS
—Mark Twain to Cornelius Vanderbilt, 1869
Local Drinks and Dining Guide Page 19
Postal Customer Prst Std U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 39 Welches, OR.
The View Finder Page 23
Vol. XXXI, No. 7 n A Free, Independent Newspaper n www.mountaintimesoregon.com
July 2023
n SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF MOUNT HOOD n
Welches, Brightwood, Wemme, Wildwood, Zigzag, Rhododendron, Government Camp, Sandy and Boring
OTSD Teachers Retiring with 144 Combined Years of Experience
CORINNE DAVIDSON 31 Years
SUSAN DOAN 20 Years
By Dennis McNabb The Mountain Times
“Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.” — Japanese proverb. Teaching at a high level is an art. It requires commitment, patience and finesse, and simply being proficient in a subject is not enough. The ability to impart knowledge to students in a way that is both interesting and relatable is of equal importance. Even more critical is the ability to inspire; to ignite interest in a topic, and in general, a passion for learning. Benjamin Franklin once said, “TELL me and I forget. TEACH me and I remember. INVOLVE me and I learn.” While not every educator understands that distinction, we have six of them here in the Oregon Trail School District — six amazing teachers who have excelled at their craft and touched the lives of thousands of students over the course of their
ROBERT SALVETER 26 Years
tenures, and who we are sadly losing this year to retirement. It’s difficult to put into words what a positive and lasting impact these individuals have had on our communities, or how desperately they will be missed. They are not simply educators. They are our friends, our colleagues, our neighbors, our families; and they are each pillars of the departments they served. We are faced every year with natural attrition, but rarely have we lost so many key players at once. Their absences will be profoundly felt. Corinne Davidson and Cora Mills both taught at Boring Middle School and are irreplaceable. Corinne taught for a whopping 31 years and Cora for 18. Susan Doan taught for 20 years at Cedar Ridge Middle School (but 30 years in total — her first 10 were at Centennial). Robert Salveter, Fred Trosko and PattiRae Yeager all taught at Sandy High School for 26 years, 38
FRED TROSKO 38 Years
CORA MILLS 18 Years
years, and 11 years, respectively. 144 total years combined! Fred’s influence was so far reaching that on his last day, the entire staff wore shirts reading, “Be like Fred.” Every one of these people though, for decades, have not only played integral roles in the education of our youths, but also mentored their fellow staff members. They are leaders by example, motivating and inspiring others to greatness. As we get older and start reflecting on our lives, combing through our memories to consider those who helped us most significantly along the way, we often stick most obstinately to family and friends. It’s a natural inclination, and for those fortunate enough to have that kind of support at home, it’s a blessing. Some might credit celebrities, artists or athletes. Certainly, whether we like it or not, they are as visible and influential in our children’s lives as we are. And they are far more dramatic
PATTIRAE YEAGER 11 Years
in their efforts! So it’s no surprise that teachers often rank third on that list. Inevitably, they are the unsung heroes of our lives. But it doesn’t have to be that way! We have the unique opportunity, living in the smaller, tight-knit communities that we do, to rectify this situation; to continue to interact with these individuals even though they have retired from the positions which gained them such renown. Next time you see one of them in town, don’t ignore that opportunity. Instead, take a moment to say hello and let them know how much their efforts affected you, how much they meant to you. Superintendent Aaron Bayer had this to say: “This was a special group of educators who often gave of themselves to ensure the success of every student they crossed paths with. These folks proved to have an uncommon passion to help students pursue a purpose and See TEACHERS Page 30
INDEX Mountain Profile............................................2 Meet the Athlete...........................................3 Fire Focus................................................... 6–7 Opinion........................................................ 8–9 Wildcat Tracks............................................. 13 The Woodsman........................................... 15 The View Finder ......................................... 23 Museum Chatter........................................ 14 Health.....................................................20–21 Crossword/Sudoku.................................... 26 Classified Ads............................................... 28 Real Estate ...........................................30–31
K & M Creations Allows You to Get Creative By Ty Walker
The Mountain Times
Budding artists of all ages looking to add a splash of color to those long, hot summer days can find a creative outlet in the heart of Welches. Sign-ups are under way at K & M Creations, a new local art studio and gallery designed with beginning artists in mind, owner Kim Decker said. “We are a local art studio that caters to beginner artists and people who want
to be creative in a fun and friendly environment,” Decker said. Decker said she was inspired to create the studio because there was a need to offer local youth something different. “There’s really nothing to do up there,” she said. “There aren’t too many activities for kids. No classes for kids.” She had a hard time finding local after school activities and summer camps for her daughter, Maddy, so
when office space in Welches opened up, she opened an art studio where kids and adults can come together and be creative. “There are weekly painting classes, arts and crafts classes and summer camps,” Decker said. “We want to create a safe, positive environment for anyone who wants to explore their creativity.”
See CREATIVE KIDS Page 13