A member of The Dalles Art Center board says they have seen an outpouring of community support since announcing earlier in the week they need a minimum of $3,500 in committed funding a month to avoid closing by mid-April. Philip Mascher says they have received donations to move them about halfway toward their goal. In addition, Mascher said The Dalles Athletic Club is making a $2,000 matching donation. To contribute to the Art Center, go to thedallesartcenter.org. Mascher said they need a consistent $3,500 a month in funding to allow the Center to keep the doors open, and then they can begin to move toward increasing that to allow more sustainable operations.
Author: mbailey
Homelessness Town Hall Hits Capacity, To Be Livestreamed
A town hall on homelessness planned for The Dalles on April 3 is already full up. Wasco County officials says seating at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center for the event being put on by the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council is at capacity. However, the town hall will be livestreamed via Zoom. The zoom link is available at the Wasco County Sheriff’s Facebook page. The town hall be on Monday, April 3 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Questions can be submitted in advance at town.hall@co.wasco.or.us.
Maryhill’s Schafroth To Retire
Maryhill Museum of Art Executive Director Colleen Schafroth has announced her retirement. Schafroth worked for the Museum for 37 years, functioning as Maryhill’s Executive Director since 2001. During her tenure as Executive Director, Schafroth oversaw the addition of the $10 million Mary and Bruce Stevenson Wing, dedicated in 2012, the $3.6 million renovation of the historic building between 2001 and 2003, as well as a stucco renovation campaign in 2016. Schafroth’s leadership resulted in the accreditation of the Museum by the American Alliance of Museums in 2002. Prior to stepping into the role of Executive Director, Schafroth served as Maryhill’s Curator of Education from 1986. In that capacity, she researched and published books on the history of the Museum’s chess set collection, developed the annual Summer Art Institute and Museum Week, as well as teacher workshops, an Elderhostel program and a high school juried art and K-12 chess set design exhibitions. Recently, Maryhill’s Board of Trustees enlisted Hagel & Company with the search for Maryhill’s new Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. The incoming Executive Director is expected to take over from Schafroth before her official last day at the Museum on September 1.
Hydrant Flushing To Begin In The Dalles
The Dalles Public Works Department will be flushing fire hydrants throughout the city over the next few weeks, weather permitting. Fire hydrants are flushed in order to clean out deposits, sediments and rust from distribution pipelines, help minimize water quality problems, test fire protection water pressures, exercise hydrant valves, and identify hydrants needing repair or replacement. Motorists and pedestrians are asked to avoid driving or walking through the water coming directly from a hydrant while it is being flushed. Occasionally main flushing causes water flowing from a tap to be discolored from stirred up sediment or milky white caused by tiny air bubbles. Although discolored water won’t make you sick, you might want to flush the pipe by running the water for several minutes before drinking or washing. If the water does not clear, contact The Dalles Public Works at 541-296-5401 during business hours, or after hours at 541-980-7703.
Permits To Focus On Multnomah Falls Parking Lot
Timed use permits will focus on the Multnomah Falls parking lot and not the Waterfall Corridor for summer 2023 in the Columbia River Gorge. From May 26 through September 4, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, a timed use permit will be required for each personal vehicle accessing Multnomah Falls from Interstate 84 Exit 31. The permits target congestion at Multnomah Falls by reducing safety concerns and backups on I-84 with required timed use permits at Exit 31, the Multnomah Falls parking lot on Interstate 84, along with using a flagger to direct traffic at the Historic Columbia River Highway crosswalk at Multnomah Falls, and using a private concessionaire to manage the small parking lot along the Historic Highway on a first come, first-served basis. When the parking lot is full, vehicles will not be allowed to stop or wait for an open space. Multnomah Falls timed use permits will be available online at recreation.gov for a $2 transaction fee per vehicle up to two weeks in advance. A limited number of permits will also be available for pickup without a fee at the Gateway to the Gorge Visitor Center in Troutdale and the Cascade Locks Historical Museum. Unlike last year, permits will not be required on the Historic Columbia River Highway Waterfall Corridor in 2023.
March 15 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hood River Valley 5, Scappoose 4: Jacob von Lubken drove in the tying run with a one-out double in the bottom of the seventh, then scored on Jordan Webber’s sacrifice fly to give the Eagles the win in the season opener. It was von Lubken’s second run-scoring double of the game.
Corbett 10, Sherman 8, 9 innings: The Cardinals scored four in the top of the ninth inning, then held off the Huskies’ rally in the bottom half of the frame. Talon Dark drove in a pair of runs for Sherman.
Softball
Scappoose 12, Hood River Valley 10, 8 innings: Scappoose scored two runs in the eighth to win it after the Eagles had tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, culminated by Grace Rowan’s two-out two-run double. Rowan had three doubles in the contest.
Girls Lacrosse
St. Mary’s 17, Hood River Valley 10
The Dalles Art Center Looks For On-Going Funding To Stay Open
The board of The Dalles Art Center says it needs an on-going monthly funding level at a minimum of $3,500 by the end of the month, or it will close the Center after over 60 years of operation. Board members say they are implementing a sustainability plan to reduce costs and increase revenues. In a statement, the board says limited fundraising opportunities, in part due to the COVID pandemic and the subsequent financial recession, have been a challenge over the last three years, while inflation and other economic factors have created increased operational expenses. The board eliminated the Executive Director’s position that had been held by Scott Stephenson, leaving gallery manager Kris Vercouteren as the only employee. Along with finding the on-going monthly donations, the board wants to use the Center’s assets for revenue generation, such as space rental. The Center also reduced its hours of operation to 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays to Saturdays.
The Dalles Police Asks For Help Identifying Robbery Suspects
The Dalles Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance with identifying two suspects involved in an early Monday morning robbery at a convenience store. According to a police statement, two individuals entered Center Market, located on Walnut Street in The Dalles, at around 3 a.m. Monday. Once in the store the two males brandished weapons and demanded money and merchandise and then fled from the building. No store staff were injured during the crime and the event was captured by video surveillance cameras. If you have any information regarding the identity of these two individuals, please contact The Dalles Police Department at 541-296-2613. Please reference case number D23-0483. You may also download “The Dalles Police Department” app from any Apple or Android device app store to submit anonymous tips. Pictures are posted on The Dalles Police Facebook page.
March 14 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
The Dalles vs. Mazama at Bend, ccld.
Goldendale sweeps Columbia 10-9 and 4-0
Softball
Columbia sweeps Goldendale 23-4 and 17-0
Boys Tennis
Hood River Valley 8, St. Helens 0
Girls Tennis
Hood River Valley 8, St. Helens 0
Hood River URA Board Tables Lot 1
The Hood River Urban Renewal Agency board has decided to table a decreased urban renewal area to fund public improvements to Lot 1 of the Hood River Waterfront along the Nichols Basin. The Port of Hood River had brought up the concept as the Waterfront Urban Renewal District nears its sunset. But City Councilors on the Urban Renewal Agency board expressed concern that there was no specific plan for Lot 1, and the need for municipal staff to concentrate on development of a Westside Urban Renewal District. Councilor Mark Zanmiller said with the Port suggesting a re-visioning of Lot 1, there is no rush to move forward. Mayor Paul Blackburn suggested as the current Waterfront URA sunsets and the Westside area is put together to leave enough acreage to address Lot 1 as that plan emerges.