The Port of Hood River Commission held its final hearing on a proposed bridge toll increase this week.  Under the proposal the cash toll for automobiles crossing the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge would go up from $1 to $2, while Breeze-By rates will go from 80 cents to $1.  About a dozen people testified, many focusing on the impact of the rate increase on low-income residents of the area.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says staff will now go back through hearing comments and consider how some of the concerns can be addressed.  The staff recommendation on the toll increase has included a provision that all new net revenue derived from the increase be dedicated solely to the Port’s bridge repair and replacement fund.

The Columbia Gorge Veterans Museum will hold its grand opening on Saturday, which is Veterans Day.  The museum is located at 203 East 2nd in The Dalles, and is a partnership of American Legion Post 19 and the Mid-Columbia Veterans Memorial Committee.  Museum director Lisa Commander says visitors will find a focus on those who served in the military from the five Mid-Columbia counties.  Commander adds there will be some items for people to handle, and they plan to change exhibits every two to three months.  The museum’s grand opening will be Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., with ribbon cutting at 2:30.  There will be as family spaghetti feed in the American Legion next door.

Saturday is Veterans Day, and there are a number of different activities and observances planned in the area.  In The Dalles, there will be a free breakfast for veterans, reserve and active duty personnel, and Gold Star families from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at The Dalles Civic Auditorium, with cost for all others $5 or $15 for families.  The annual Veterans Day parade in The Dalles begins at 11 a.m. and follows the usual route, with a focus on the service of women in the military.  There will be a community potluck at the Oregon Veterans Home after the parade.        The new Columbia Gorge Veterans Museum at 203 East 2nd will open its doors from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for a Grand Opening event.  In Hood River, the Elks Club hosts a free community breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., and there will be an observance that follows at 11 a.m. at Anderson’s Tribute Center with a reception hosted by the Daughters of the American Revolution to follow.

Mid-Columbia Health Foundation’s Festival of Trees is coming up on the first evening of December, and there is still time for someone who is interested in decorating a tree to be auctioned off to sign up to do so.  Foundation event coordinator Stephanie Bowen says community groups and businesses can still sign-up to provide a tree in the event that will benefit the Celilo Cancer Center Fund and Mid-Columbia Medical Center’s expansion project.  For information on how to donate and decorate a tree go online to mcmc.net/foundation or call 541-296-7275.  Tree decorating will take place on Wednesday, November 29, and the Festival of Trees auction will be Friday, December 1 at The Dalles Civic Auditorium with doors opening at 6 p.m., with tickets $10 and available at mcmc.net/foundation.

The City of Hood River is again seeking public input on housing issues.  The City is using Oregon’s Kitchen Table, a program of the National Policy Consensus Center in the College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland State University.  Online or paper surveys are available through November 22.  The online survey, available in both English and Spanish, may be accessed through a direct link at cityofhoodriver.com.  Paper surveys in both English and Spanish may be picked up or dropped off at City Hall at 211 2nd Street or at the Hood River Fire Department on 1785 Meyer Parkway.  The survey is intended to solicit input from people who live in, work in, or want to live in Hood River.

The City of The Dalles is asking residents to pick up leaves promptly so that they do not block the storm water catch basins and before they freeze onto the streets.  The City has purchased a new street sweeper that will be deployed to pick-up leaves that fall into the street, but it cannot pick up piles of leaves.   Residents are asked not to rake leaves into the street, but either compost them at home, put them in your yard debris container for pick-up or put them in a compostable paper bag and take them to The Dalles Transfer Station for free disposal.  The Dalles Disposal is accepting yard debris, from residential customers only, at no charge during the month of November if taken to the transfer station at 1317 West First Street.  Citizens are asked to park off the street during street sweeper work hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Port of Hood River Commission received an economic analysis on Waterfront Lot 1 development from the consulting firm EcoNorthwest that didn’t contain much in the way of surprises.  It indicated to make development on the property feasible, there will need to be public money invested in infrastructure.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says with rent costs at the Waterfront already similar to those found in the Portland area, the report shows the challenge to develop on Lot 1.  The Port will be talking with Hood River’s Urban Renewal board about a proposal to develop more specific plans and cost estimates for the infrastructure.  Earlier this week, the Hood River City Planning Commission approved the preliminary subdivision for Lot 1 with a number of requirements related to infrastructure.

The renovated Granada Theatre in The Dalles will reopen this weekend with a series of events.  Chuck Gomez and Debra Liddell, who own a similar historic theatre in Illinois, took possession of the Granada from the Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency in April.  Gomez says the building is ready to be open to the public with interior and exterior renovations.  Gomez says for long-term success the theatre has to build a local base, with private parties and corporate events as a focus as well as expanding into community theater, and the café will be open on a regular basis.  The Granada will hold a gala opening Friday night, followed by a concert tribute to Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley on Saturday and Afterglow Aerial Arts on Sunday.  For information go to granadatheatrethedalles.com.

Health officials are reminding people to get a flu shot as winter approaches.  Ian Stromquist of the Hood River County Health Department says getting a flu shot not only protects you, it protects others in the population who for some reason may not be able to get a flu shot.  Flu shots are available from local health providers and pharmacies.  The Hood River County Health Department will host a flu shot clinic this coming Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Parkdale Fire Department.  Bring insurance information to bill or, if you do not have insurance, the cost will be $20.

Volleyball:  Hood River Valley’s Katie Kennedy was named Player of the Year and Scott Walker Coach of the Year as the Eagles won the league title and went on to reach the final eight in the Oregon Class 5A tournament.  HRV’s Emily Curtis and Shae Duffy joined Kennedy as first team all-conference selections, with Hannah McNerney and Kennedy James tabbed to the second team.  Jodi Thomasian and Bailey LeBreton of The Dalles were also first team selections, while teammate Lindsi Logue was named to the second team.   Boys Soccer:  Robby Running of Hood River Valley was named Player of the Year and Matthew Dallman of The Dalles received Coach of the Year honors.  Other Hood River Valley first team selections included Westley Carter, Erik Siekkinen, and Saul Chavarria, while The Dalles is represented by Alberto Gallegos and Jake Roetcisoender.   The second team includes HRV’s Alejandro Rodriguez, Reese Carroll, Jack McCaffery, and Emy Perez, and The Dalles’ Reed Twidwell, Julian Quintana, and Pedro Lopez.   Girls Soccer:  Hood River Valley’s Kevin Haspela received Coach of the Year and HRV’s YaYa Chavarria shared Player of the Year with Pendleton’s Denisa Senkerikova.  HRV first teamers with Chavarria were Claire Davies, Ashlee Ponce, and Lauren Trumbull, with The Dalles represented by Victoria Barragan and Addie Klindt.  On the second team were Hood River’s Claire Oswald, Makena Zorza, Mira Olson, and Avrie VanTiburg, along with Molly Taylor and Courtney Hert of The Dalles.