Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air. — Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Mountain Guide Dining, Events, Entertainment, Music, Recreation: Pages 19-20
Postal Customer Prst Std U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 39 Welches, OR.
Vol. XXIX, No. 6 n A Free, Independent Newspaper n www.mountaintimesoregon.com
Our Community
Page 12
Nature's lesson on the power of change
June 2021
n SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF MOUNT HOOD n Welches, Brightwood, Wemme, Wildwood, Zigzag, Rhododendron, Government Camp, Sandy and Boring
PGE plans to add poles for supply lines on some Mountain properties By Garth Guibord
The Mountain Times
Portland General Electric (PGE) began marking properties for potentially adding poles to properties last month, the start of an effort to remove service drops that are attached to trees. Andrea Platt of PGE Strategic Communications noted the project is
Fire district budget prepared for 2021-22 By Ben Simpson
The Mountain Times
Hoodland Fire District (HFD) Fire Chief James Price presented a draft budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year to the district’s budget committee during a May 18 Zoom meeting. The draft budget was approved for adoption by the committee without a need for a second scheduled meeting. “This year’s budget saw no significant changes in the things that cost the most, such as personnel,” Chief Price said. “We’re returning the training budget to where it was in 2018, providing funds for FIREWISE preparation in the community, and are able to put some funds in reserves.” For the July to June budget year of 2021-22, HFD will have a permanent tax rate of $2.6385 per $1,000.00 of assessed value and $0.25 per $1,000.00 of assessed value for the local option tax levy. The draft budget is an increase of $888,573 from the 2020-21 budget. New expenses are dependent on potential See BUDGET Page 14
Index Profile ....................................................2 Briefs .....................................................5 Opinion & Viewpoints ....................... 6-7 Theater ..................................................9 Mountain Roar .....................................10 Wildcat Tracks ....................................11 Our Community Our Earth! ..................12 The Woodsman ...................................13 The View Finder .................................15 Museum Chatter ..................................16 FORE!..................................................17 Cooking/The Whole Tooth ...................22 Where There’s a Will ...........................23 Crossword/Sudoku ..............................23 Classified Ads ......................................24 Real Estate ................................... 26-27
in the design work phase and PGE will engage with property owners for potential design solutions in the coming months. “We’ve got a number of ways that we’ll plan to reach out to customers so they have a sense of what we’re doing and what the options might look like,” Platt said. “If customers don’t agree
with the location for a future potential pole, we want to have dialogue.” Properties were marked with stakes with pink ribbons where a new potential pole could be placed. Platt noted that PGE is constantly assessing equipment to be in line with current laws, noting that the lines that were attached to trees were done many
years ago. “Times have changed and regulations have as well,” she said, adding that these relocations are part of a broader effort to protect areas around wires and equipment. Mountain resident Mike Gudge has See POLES Page 18
Market returns with a Mountain of produce By Garth Guibord
The Mountain Times
With the Hoodland Farmers Market having entered its fourth season on Sunday, May 23, Market Manager Lauren Carusona knows it has made an impact from the response she’s getting from people. “I keep getting a lot of, ‘Oh I can't wait to have farm fresh dinners all summer,’” Carusona said, noting that people are becoming more aware of the impact that food can have on their lives as well as the choices they make with their money. “Building community and connection to food has always been our goal. Now that it’s our fourth season, it feels like we’re really stepping into that role.” The market will offer fresh produce, meats, soaps and more from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday through September in the parking lot at the Whistle Stop, 66674 Hwy. 26 in Welches. The season will be the longest for the market, which had a shortened one last year due to the pandemic and the wildfires. “It feels really exciting and the timing feels good with the vaccination roll out and some of the restrictions being lifted,” Carusona said. “We’re starting to feel a little sense of normalcy return.” Carusona added that the market is building off of previous years with a number of returning vendors. The vendors for the opening day included: Chicken Coop Botanicals, offering natural health products handmade by local herbalist; Twig Furniture, featuring locally-made one-of-a-kind furniture made from branches; Hood Soaps selling handcrafted vegan and goats milk bar soaps, whipped body butter, lotion bars, lip balms and laundry soap; Hood Hills Farm,
Photos by Garth Guibord
Top: Christen Prudence (left) and Lauren Carusona at the info table for the Hoodland Farmers Market. Right: radishes and more at one of the produce tables. with farm fresh produce, canned and fermented foods; Roots Movement Farm, offering farm fresh produce and mushrooms; Heart Song Arts Pottery, with handmade pottery; Northwest Acid Test, selling hand printed and dyed clothing inspired by Oregon; Sugar Maple Swine, a small family farm with humanely raised pork products; Bristly Rose, offering flowers and veggies; and an
info booth, offering stickers, tote bags and can koozies for sale. The market’s first Sunday brought out some new people, including Mountain residents Candice Kelly and Julie Cook. They noted they came out to be more involved and support local businesses. “Everything looks great,” Cook See MARKET Page 26