Mid Columbia Entertainment Calendar

To submit an item to the local events calendar, e-mail the Editor or by mailing or dropping the information off at our office.
For A LIST OF PUBLIC MEETINGS CLICK HERE.

Tuesday, March 9

BAT HOUSE WORKSHOP: Northern Wasco Park & Recreation is partnering with Tuck Contreras to find a problem to the mosquitoes at Riverfront Park during the summer. She will lead a bat house workshop. Bat boxes are easy to build and have narrow spaces inside for the bats to sleep. She has built many such dwellings which can hold from 150 to 1,500 bats. In a No-School Friday workshop, she will teach local youth the art of woodworking. Her goal for this project is to educate the community about the importance of bats in our local ecosystem. This workshop will begin with the basics of woodworking as students build the boxes. On the second day, those in the camp will load up the van and visit a cherry orchard where bat dwellings are used as a natural form of pest control. If you can’t make it to the workshop, be sure to look for the bat dwellings attached to the buildings of Riverfront Park this summer.
The workshop will be held on two Fridays, March 9 and 12.

Notecrackers perform, 7-9 p.m., Mid-Columbia Senior Center, Ninth and Cherry Heights, The Dalles, free or donation.

Thursday, March 11

Dance night at the Eagles Lodge, 2006 W. Seventh St., nonsmoking, family-friendly. Line dancing 6 p.m., partner lessons 7:30. (541) 993-3540 or sate2d@msn.com

COAST GUARD: The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is sponsoring an open house at 7 p.m. on March 11 at The Dalles Yacht Club at The Dalles Marina to celebrate the opening of a detachment here in The Dalles. Refreshments will be served, there will be door prizes and information about the new detachment will be available. All are invited at no cost or obligation. For more information, call (541) 298-5334.

March 11 - Dance night at the Eagles Lodge, 2006 W. Seventh St., nonsmoking, family-friendly. Line dancing 6 p.m., partner lessons 7:30. (541) 993-3540.

PLANT MEETING: The Mid-Columbia Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon will meet on Thursday, March 11, at 7 p.m. at the boardroom, Building 1, Columbia Gorge Community College in The Dalles. Paul Slichter will show photos of rare plants in the mid-Gorge and east Cascades and discuss monitoring efforts with an emphasis on Washington State Rare Care model.

Thursday, March 12

CHERRY SWEETHEART: The 2010 Cherry Sweetheart program is requesting applications for this year’s Cherry Sweetheart.If you are a student in your junior year of high school and love to meet new people and participate in public events you may be a perfect fit for the Cherry Sweetheart program. If selected, you will be representing agricultural industry and your local community. Columbia State Bank will give a $500 scholarship to the Cherry sweetheart and Orchard View Farms will give a $250 scholarship to each of the three girls. Pick up an application at The Dalles Wahtonka, Dufur, South Wasco and Sherman High schools, or at The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce.Applications need to be returned to your school or The Dalles Chamber of Commerce by March 12. Cherry Sweetheart Coronation will be held on April 21, 2010. The Cherry Festival Parade is on Saturday, April 24.

Saturday, March 13

CATLINK WORKSHOP: Catlink, an all-volunteer, no-kill shelter dedicated to feral and homeless cats in The Gorge is having a work party on Saturday, March 13 from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers are needed to participate in spring cleaning around its shelter at 1812 Mt. Hood St. in The Dalles. In 2009, Catlink treated 1,518 homeless or feral cats in the gorge and found homes for 555 adoptable cats. Catlink is a division of the nonprofit Rowena Wildlife Clinic. Catlink’s mission is made possible entirely through its volunteers and donations. Work party participants should bring work gloves. Yard tools such as rakes, shovels and loppers would also be useful. For more information or to learn about other volunteer opportunities at Catlink, please contact Marcia at (509) 365-2798 or buserpdx@yahoo.com.

BOWL FOR KIDS' SAKE — Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Columbia Gorge (BBBS) is preparing for its largest, most inclusive fundraiser of the year. The 2010 Bowl for Kids’ Sake is set to take place on Saturday, March 13 at Orchard Lanes in Hood River. BBBS matches each child with a caring, screened and trained volunteer who acts as a role model, providing friendship, guidance and support. The need for mentors is great — there are currently 20 children on the waiting list. Supporting a bowler with your donation will help match additional youth throughout the region with a Big Brother or Big Sister. For more information about Bowl for Kid’s Sake or how you can get involved in the program, contact Kristin Reese at (541) 308-2231 or at bbbs@nextdoorinc.org.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY RUN: The annual St. Patrick’s Day River 3k, 5k, 10k, riverfront trail run is on schedule for 10 a.m. Saturday, March 13. The run begins at the west end of The Dalles Marina. Race registration begins at 9:30 a.m. with no pre-registration, only on-the-day registration. The cost to participate is $5. The event is a fundraiser for the Jumpstart Summer Basketball Camp. For more information, Contact: Tom Conklin at (541) 340-0926

Spring Splash for the Hood River Waterfront Park, 7-10 p.m., The Pines Tasting Room, downtown Hood River. www.hoodriverwaterfront.com and www.hoodriveradoptadog.org/newsletter/

Crazy Hat Party to celebrate spring and kick off theater fund-raising campaign, featuring marimba band Wood Vibrations, $15. www.thedallescivic.org.

PRESCRIPTION TURN IN: A prescription drug turn-in event will be held in The Dalles on Saturday, March 13 at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center, 1112 W. Ninth St. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is for people who have unwanted medications around their homes and will help protect families, the community and the environment. Things to bring are expired or unwanted prescription medications, unneeded over-the-counter medicines, drugs that didn’t work, drugs that are no longer used, medicine from deceased family members and unknown tablets and capsules. Participants are asked to leave medicines in their original containers if possible and not to bring thermometers, needles, or medical waste of any type. For more information, contact Debby Jones, Youth Think, (541) 506-2673.

WINERY TOUR: A winery tour of the eastern gorge will be held on Saturday, March 13, from 1 to 6 p.m. This educational trip will reveal the history and the inner workings of three local wineries. Taste a selection of locally grown wine. Van transportation, picnic lunch, and wine tasting are included. Participants must be over age 21. The cost of $35 includes transportation and sampling fees.
To make reservations or to get more information, call Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation at (541) 296-9533.

SPRING HIKES: The Friends of the Columbia Gorge Spring Hiking Program kicks off in March, with carpools from Portland to dozens of hikes throughout the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area. A March 13 hike to the Lyle Cherry Orchard is the first of 59 Friends-led hikes, walks and bike rides that showcase the Gorge’s spring beauty. Wildflower hikes begin the Eastern Gorge and move west in subsequent weeks, following the blooms of the region’s 800 species of wildflowers. Most events are free and open to the public. Hikers can register online at www.gorgefriends.org/hikes/currentschedule. There are also 20 member-only hikes that require participants to be current members of Friends of the Columbia Gorge. Basic membership is $35 annually and people are welcomed to join when signing up for a hike, either online or by calling the Friends of the Gorge office at (503) 241-3762, ext.103. Carpools to Friends of the Gorge hikes typically depart from the Gateway Park and Ride in Northeast Portland.

Sunday, March 14

BABE RUTH: The Dalles Babe Ruth organization will hold tryouts on
March 14 starting at 1 p.m. at Quinton Street Ball Park. Players may still sign up prior to the tryouts. The league is for 13 to 15-year-olds. First-time players must provide a copy of their birth certificate. The cost is $80 per players..

Monday, March 15

COMMISSION VACANCY: The City of The Dalles is seeking individuals who are interested in volunteering their services to fill a vacancy on the city planning commission. Residents of the city who would like to be considered for a position on the commission may get an application at the city clerk’s office
in city hall, 313 Court St. They may also request an application be mailed to them by calling (541) 296-5481, Ext. 1120; by emailing a request to juliekruger@ci.the-dalles.or.us, or download the application from the city’s website. The website is www.ci.the-dalles.or.us. The form, titled “Commission Application,” may be found under the public documents button on the main page.The deadline for application submission is March 15.

March 15 – Maryhill Museum of Art’s 70th season opens www.maryhillmuseum.org.

March 15 – May 31 – 70: Seven Decades of Collecting at Maryhill Museum. www.maryhillmuseum.org, (509) 773-3733

March 15 – Oct. 3 – Outdoor Sculpture Garden at Maryhill Museum www.maryhillmuseum.org.

Tuesday, March 16

LIBRARY PROGRAM: Jane Kirkpatrick, local, award-winning author will make a guest appearance at Sherman County Public/School library on Tuesday, March 16, at 6:30 p.m. for a “Meet the Author” book discussion in conjunction with One Book, One Community program featuring “A Flickering Light,” historical fiction. The program is made possible by a grant from Sherman County Cultural Coalition.

FREE WORKSHOP: A Holistic approach to Women’s Hormone Related
Health Concerns will be the topic of a free workshop on Tuesday, March 16, starting at 7 p.m. at Cascade Acupuncture Center, 414 Washington St.
Carola Stepper, LAc, and owner of Cascade Acupuncture Center will be presenting the workshop. Class size is limited. Call (541) 298-BEST (2378)
to register.

PUBLIC PROGRAMS: A public program titled “Justice in Frontier Oregon, 1851-1905,” will be presented at Canyon Rim Residential Center in Maupin on Tuesday, March 16 and again at The Dalles-Wasco Co. Library, 722 Court St.. in The Dalles on Wed., March 17. Each program will begin at 7 p.m. Oregon historian and author Diane Goeres-Gardner will present the one-hour program on the state’s early public executions. The program is free and open to anyone interested in the state’s colorful past. For further information, please contact library director Sheila Dooley or program coordinator Rita Squires at (541) 296-2815. Further information about LEO is available at librariesofeasternoregon.org or leolibraries@gmail.com. To learn more about IMLS, please see imls.gov on-line.

ROBOTIC WAR TALK: Eyewitness slides from the conflict zones of Shiite Iraq and south-central Mexico will accompany a March 16 talk on resource wars and robotic weapons in the 21st century, by visiting researcher Peter Lumsdaine.
He will speak at Riverside Church, 317 West State Street in Hood River, beginning at 7 p.m. The public is invited, and a $4 to $7 sliding scale donation is requested, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Some framed photographs from the slideshow may also be available. Lumsdaine’s Hood River talk, State of Emergency, which is subtitled Eco-infrastructure crisis, robotic warfare, and cultural resistance - from the Persian Gulf and the Sierra Madre to the U.S. Heartland. The March 16 talk is sponsored by Columbia River Fellowship for Peace, which is hosting the robotic war conference.

Wednesday, March 17

CASCADE SINGERS: “Songs of Shamrock & Thistle” is the theme for Cascade Singers’ 2010 St. Patrick's Day concert. It takes place Wednesday, March 17, at 7:30 p.m., at St. Peter's Landmark, Third and Lincoln streets in The Dalles.
Music features Charles V. Stanford's arrangements of Irish folk tunes, Robert Burns poetry set to music, and a piece from the Isle of Man. Other St. Patrick's Day favorites will be performed by the choir, ensemble, and “Almost-All-Irish-Almost-All-Brass Band.” Admission is a free-will offering to benefit St. Peter's Landmark.

PUBLIC PROGRAMS: A public program titled “Justice in Frontier Oregon, 1851-1905,” will be presented at The Dalles-Wasco Co. Library, 722 Court St.. in The Dalles on Wed., March 17. The program will begin at 7 p.m. Oregon historian and author Diane Goeres-Gardner will present the one-hour program on the state’s early public executions. The program is free and open to anyone interested in the state’s colorful past. For further information, please contact library director Sheila Dooley or program coordinator Rita Squires at (541) 296-2815. Further information about LEO is available at librariesofeasternoregon.org or leolibraries@gmail.com. To learn more about IMLS, please see imls.gov on-line.

Thursday, March 18

MID-COLUMBIA COMMUNITY CONCERT ASSOCIATION presents Miss Rose & Her Rhythm Percolators, Thursday, March 18, 2010, 7:30 p.m. at Gateway Presbyterian Church in The Dalles. Vintage jazz of the early 1920s and mid-1930s. This is the original American music that provided a playful soundtrack for the flappers who danced the Charleston and sipped illicit booze in the glitzy underworld of the speakeasy. Miss Rose & Her Rhythm Percolators play well-known popular tunes that have become part of the great American songbook.

March 18 - Dance night at the Eagles Lodge, 2006 W. Seventh St., nonsmoking, family-friendly. Line dancing 6 p.m., partner lessons 7:30. (541) 993-3540

Saturday, March 20

March 20 – Skyline Foundation — WAAAM It! Columbia Gorge all-ages ping pong tournament at Western Antique Automobile and Aeroplane Musem in Hood River. www.skylinefoundation.org, or Stephanie Irving at (509) 637-2602

Thursday, March 25

MUSEUM EXHIBIT: The History Museum of Hood River County is hosting a National Endowment for the Humanities Exhibit entitled Farm Life: A Century of Change for Farm Families and Their Neighbors. The exhibit opens March 25.
In preparation for this exhibit, the museum volunteers have been working hard over the winter months changing and renovating the museum exhibits to highlight local farming, orchards and agriculture in Hood River County. The exhibit showcases agriculture from a variety of subjects that relate to farming and farm families. The museum needs public help and is looking for people interested in loaning or donating any farm related toys to be included in this exhibit. Toys can be any era or style but must be in clean, safe condition. Special loans for this exhibit will be kept in the museum collection until the displays are removed at the end of 2010. Toys can also be donated to the museum and will be kept permanently as part of the museum archives.
Anyone who has items to be considered for this exhibit may contact Museum Coordinator, Connie Nice at (541) 386-6772 or thehistorymuseum@hrecn.net All items to be considered must be received by March 1st to allow time for exhibit design and labeling.

March 25 - Dance night at the Eagles Lodge, 2006 W. Seventh St., nonsmoking, family-friendly. Line dancing 6 p.m., partner lessons 7:30. (541) 993-3540

Wednesday, March 31

INFORMATION NEEDED: The Mid-Columbia Council of Governments Area Agency of Aging needs to identify low-income seniors in The Dalles who may qualify for the low-income supplement. This is a Medicare program where eligible individuals pay no more that $2.40 for each generic drug and $6 for each brand name drug. Individuals who make less than $16,245 and married couples who make less than $21,855 may quality for this program. Individual’s resources must also be limited to $12,510; married couples to $25,010. Resources include things like bank accounts, stocks and bonds, but not your house or car.
People may help by referring people they think are eligible to Jean Hockman at Mid-Columbia Council of Governments. The deadline is the end of March 2010 to enroll enough eligible seniors to quality for a small grant, which will enable MCCOG to maintain some of their Senior Outreach Services.

ART PROPOSALS: The City of Mosier is requesting proposals for art within the City. Guidelines can be picked up or requested by email to mosiercityhall@mosierwinet.com. Proposal will be matched to possible grant funding. Deadline for proposals is March 31.

Thursday, April 1

April 1 - Dance night at the Eagles Lodge, 2006 W. Seventh St., nonsmoking, family-friendly. Line dancing 6 p.m., partner lessons 7:30. (541) 993-3540

Saturday, April 3

MOSIER HOMECOMING: The annual Mosier Homecoming Celebration is coming up on April 3 with a theme of "Proud to be an American.”
The planning committee is asking for pictures of any and all military personnel with ties to Mosier to be part of a DVD presentation at the dinner. As well as your pictures in uniform, the committee would like the following information: branch of service, time served, rank, job and any other information you would like to provide. It is the plan to make the pictures a permanent display at the Mosier Legion Hall. Please e-mail pictures to Addie Schwartz at: roynaddie@earthlink.net or Glenna McCargar at: gem@mosierwinet.com.
Those who do not have access to a computer, can send a copy of their picture via the postal service to Doris Lewis at 1051 Hubbard Road, Yakima, WA 89809.

April 3 – Spring Wine Festival, Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. (541) 296-8600 or www.gorgediscovery.org.

Thursday, April 8

April 8 - Evergreen Brass Quintet - April 8, 2010, 7:30 p.m., The Dalles Wahtonka High School. From Bach to Bob and Sousa to Swing, Evergreen Brass Quintet is an award-winning ensemble founded in 1981. Performing concerts throughout the Northwest with their consummate musicianship, contagious warmth and enthusiastic spirit, the Evergreen Brass Quintet attracts audiences as varied as the music they perform.

April 8 - Dance night at the Eagles Lodge, 2006 W. Seventh St., nonsmoking, family-friendly. Line dancing 6 p.m., partner lessons 7:30. (541) 993-3540

Saturday, April 10

April 10 – Spring Wine Festival, Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. (541) 296-8600 or www.gorgediscovery.org.

SPRING BAZAAR: Cherry Heights Retirement Community at 910 Cherry Height Road will host a spring bazaar on April 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Crafters and vendors with merchandise are wanted. To reserve a space or get more information about the bazaar call Cherry Heights at (541) 296-6880.

Thursday, April 15

April 15 - Dance night at the Eagles Lodge, 2006 W. Seventh St., nonsmoking, family-friendly. Line dancing 6 p.m., partner lessons 7:30. (541) 993-3540

Friday, April 16

April 16-18 – Goldendale Regional Home & Garden Show, Klickitat County Fairgrounds, free. 509-773-3400, www.goldendalechamber.org

Thursday, April 22

April 22 - Dance night at the Eagles Lodge, 2006 W. Seventh St., nonsmoking, family-friendly. Line dancing 6 p.m., partner lessons 7:30. (541) 993-3540

Saturday, April 24

April 24 and 25 - CAR SHOW: The KODL Classic Car Show will be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 24 and 25 in downtown The Dalles. The car show is part of the Northwest Cherry Festival and Cherry Blossom Cycling Classic. The entry fee is $10 and entrants compete for trophies and plaques in several categories. Registration is from 8 to 10 a.m. at the radio station office at 404 E. Second St. All entrants receive dash plates. Awards are given at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Festivities include a parade, food booths and entertainment in walking distance of the show. Cars will be on display from noon to 5 p.m. Early exit will be available at 3 p.m. For more information, visit the station website at kodl.com or call (541) 296-2101 and ask for Marcia.

Thursday, April 29

April 29 - Dance night at the Eagles Lodge, 2006 W. Seventh St., nonsmoking, family-friendly. Line dancing 6 p.m., partner lessons 7:30. (541) 993-3540

May 6 - Dance night at the Eagles Lodge, 2006 W. Seventh St., nonsmoking, family-friendly. Line dancing 6 p.m., partner lessons 7:30. (541) 993-3540

May 8 – Bird Walk, Brooks Memorial State Park, Goldendale. (509) 773-4611

May 13 - Dance night at the Eagles Lodge, 2006 W. Seventh St., nonsmoking, family-friendly. Line dancing 6 p.m., partner lessons 7:30. (541) 993-3540

May 15 – Founders’ day and Maryhill 70th Anniversary Celebration at Maryhill Museum. www.maryhillmuseum.org, (509) 773-3733

May 21-22 – Fiddlin’ Under the Stars Festival, E’Kone Park, 411 Wilbur Avenue, Goldendale. Admission $5 (camping fees not included). (509) 773-3400 or info@goldendalechamber.org.

Thursday, May 27

TRACK MEETS: The Jumpstart Elementary School Track Meet is slated to run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Wahtonka High School track starting Thursday, May 27 and Thursday, June 3. All children from kindergarten through fifth grade may to participate. There is no charge to enter in the event.
For more information, or to sign up, contact Tom Conklin at (541) 340-0926.

Upcoming Activities and Events

NEW HOURS: The hours for the Wonderworks Children’s Museum of the
Gorge Putt Putt indoor mini-golf course have changed. The course is now open Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. and is no longer open Fridays.
The course is located at the future home of Wonderworks, 206 Madison St. downtown The Dalles, next door to Taco del Mar. The Putt Putt course is helping raise money to refurbish the building while providing a safe place to have fun. Tickets are $5 for 18 and older, $4 for ages 3-18 years and seniors, and free for those 2 and under. In addition, there is a punch card where the 10th game is free. The entire course is also open for rental for two hours at a cost of $50. For more information about Wonderworks and the Putt Putt indoor mini golf course, call (541) 980-5922 or visit www.wonderworks childrensmuseum.org.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS: The Columbia Gorge Community College Full Year High School Foundation Scholarship application is now available.
Any high school senior in the Mid-Columbia area planning to take credit classes at CGCC this coming fall 2010 is eligible to apply for this tuition scholarship. Recipients may be awarded up to 12 credits per term. Applications are available at the student service offices in The Dalles or Hood River as well as online at www.cgcc.cc.or.us. Applications must be hand-delivered to either student service office at the college no later than noon on Friday, April 16. For more information, call Sharyn Anderson at (541) 506-6021, come to the student service office in The Dalles, or call Lynne Davidson at (541) 308-8211 in Hood River.

OREA SCHOLARSHIPS: Unit 20 of the Oregon Retired Educators Association is offering a $750 scholarship to the third, fourth or fifth-year college student (as of September 2010) who aspires to become a teacher and is attending an Oregon School. For an application and further information, contact Frank Wall at (541) 354-1505. The application deadline is May 1.

PLANT ORDERS: The Hood River Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is taking orders now for its annual native tree and plant sale. HRSWCD offers a variety of native conifers, deciduous trees and shrubs. These bare-root seedlings are 1-2 years old and will be delivered to the SWCD in early April of 2010. Check out our website at www.hoodriverswcd.org to download an order form and gather information on plant descriptions and site suitability. Tree and shrub orders can be placed now by mail, e-mail (hrswcd@gorge.net) or phone at (541) 386-4588; or stop by the office at 3007 Experiment Station Road in Hood River. Purchases will be available for pick up on Friday and Saturday, April 2 and 3, 2010.

SPRING TRIP: A group of middle-schoolers and their parents will be spending nine days in Costa Rica during the spring break of 2010. The trip starts on March 19 and runs to March 28. The land cost is $1,450 and air fare is extra.
The group will patrol beaches searching for nesting or hatching sea turtles, zip line through a cloud forest and sleep near an active volcano. For more information, contact Pamela Miller at 298-4591 or amelamiller@enbarqmail.com. The full itinerary can be found at www.ecoteach.com/2010/miller.htm.

MUSEUM CLOSED : During the fall, Fort Dalles Museum and the Anderson Homestead is closed for the season. Oregon's oldest museum is at 500 West 15th and Garrison in The Dalles. To schedule a group tour, call 296-4547.

LIBRARY FUND RAISER: The Dalles-Wasco County Library is currently selling Entertainment Books, which contain hundreds of discount offers from many restaurants, hotels and merchants. With the book people can save 50 percent on dining, travel, theater, sports and more. The cost of the book is $20 with $4 from the sale of each book to be used to benefit the library. Books are valid now through Nov. 1, 2010. For more information contact the library at 296-2815.

FOSTER CARE: There are babies in Wasco County that need care more than ever and there is a need for foster parents. The Department of Human Services is Oregon’s agency charged with investigating child abuse and neglect. Recently the agency has had to place several newborn babies in foster care. This recent demand has overwhelmed the number of foster homes available to DHS and there is a great need for foster parents to provide care for newborn babies. Those interested should call Jenny Garner at 506-5222. DHS provides training and support.

April 3 – Spring Wine Festival, Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. (541) 296-8600 or www.gorgediscovery.org.

May 21-22 – Fiddlin’ Under the Stars Festival, E’Kone Park, 411 Wilbur Avenue, Goldendale. Admission $5 (camping fees not included). (509) 773-3400 or info@goldendalechamber.org.

Reunions

CLASS REUNION: The Dalles High School Class of 1980 will hold its 30th annual reunion on July 30 to Aug. 1, 2010.
     Registration and a no-host dinner will be held at Spooky's on Friday, July 30.
Registration for that is not required, but is required to attend other events, which include a tour of the high school and archive museum, a golf tournament, a formal dinner and a family picnic.
     Invitations will be mailed in January 2010 and registration costs and further details will be included in the invitations.
     An update of classmates still missing includes: Bart Andrist, Lawrence "Larry" Baarstad, Kent Baxter, Cindy Chandler, Carmen Chastain, Jaci Clark, Tim Clark, Kerry Colwell, Dave Conner, David Cunningham, Tom Dooley, Greg Dunn, Steve Dunn, Mike Elliott, Julie Gidley, Pat Gutierrez, Bruce Hodges, Shannon Houser -Almond, Lynn Hutchenson, Andre Lafore, Lynn Leavitt, Chris Lee, George Lick, Jo Loeb, Warren Mc-Cann, Jeremy McGhee, Eve McInttyre, Becky Minor, Carolyn Mitchell, Tony Monroe, Debbie Mothershead, Mike Nelson, Michael "Mike" Nicklin, Rosemary Norcom-Gaeta, Kim Nunnally, Robert Olsen, June Patrick, Stan Peickert, Rob Pheil, Christina Pickering, Linda Piek, Kathy Potwin, Renee Power. John Putnam, James Rawley, Brian Ray, Paula Sledge, Chrissy Smith, Teresa Smih, Anne Snyder-Serex, Stuart Steffan, Monte Stuart, Diana Taketa, Paul Taylor, Charles G. Thipado, Richard Tucker, Robin Valentine-Whitten, Mary Waltermire, Carrie Wolf, Richard Woodward.

NAVY REUNION: The USS American Carrier Veterans Association will hold its seventh bi-annual reunion to reunite her crew at the Holiday Inn-Cincinnati Airport Conference Center in Covington, Ky. On June 23-26, 2010. For more information, go to www.ussamerica.org or call (610) 585-2155.

Ongoing Activities

HAZARDOUS WASTE: The Tri-County Hazardous Waste & Recycling Program will be expanding monthly collections to The Dalles on the third Saturday of each month, free for households and businesses.
Also, there will be collections on the third Friday of each month at Hood River Garage.

TREE COMMITTEE: The City of The Dalles is accepting applications for an ad hoc tree committee. It is expected this committee will have five to ten meetings of approximately one hour each, with the committee duration being approximately six months. The project will be a set of recommendations to the city council and the scope of work will be limited to trees in the rights of way and on city property. Citizens with knowledge of trees, including tree maintenance are specifically encouraged to apply, but all applications are welcome. The application for serving on a city committee is available in the city clerk’s office at 313 Court St. in The Dalles and may also be obtained through the city’s website at www.ct.the-dalles.or.us, click on public documents, then select commission application. The deadline to submit an application is Feb. 1.

RECYCLING CLASS: The TriCounty Hazardous Waste and Recycling Program serving Wasco, Sherman and Hood River counties will offer the Spring 2010 Master Recycling Class during March and April at Mosier Creek Terrace in Mosier. It is a chance to learn how to reduce waste, conserve natural resources, motivate others to change their habits and make a difference in a community. The program is similar to the OSU Extension Service's popular Master Gardeners, participants will attend a series of classes and field trips, and be required to volunteer at least 30 "payback" hours in their communities. The mission of the Master Recycler program is to "bridge the gap between awareness and action by motivating people to reduce solid waste in homes and workplaces." The classes are offered free to residents of the three counties. The Master Recycler class is limited to 30 participants, with acceptance on a "first-come, first-served" basis. The class will be held Tuesday evenings.
For more information, call Cindy Brown of the TriCounty program at
(541) 506-2636 or visit www.tricountyrecycle.com and click on "Master Recycler." Applications are taken on-line.

TOASTMASTERS: Toastmasters of The Dalles meets Thursdays at noon at Room 3.302 at Columbia Gorge Community College. Everyone is welcome.

FOSTER CARE: Foster homes are needed for children in our area. For more information contact Jenny Garner with the Department of Human Services (DHS) at 506-5222.

• INTERNET ACCESS: The Dalles-Wasco County Library now offers free wireless Internet access. The Wi-Fi hot spot service is available both inside the library and on library grounds. As wireless open access connections are not secure, users should use caution when transmitting personal information. For further information on the library’s wireless Internet service contact the library at 296-2815.

• PARENTING HELP: Here’s how to find out about local parenting programs & classes, support groups, activities and other resources in the Skamania and Klickitat County region. Call their toll free number: (866) 631-1997, or check the website at http://community.gorge.net/skcnparentsupport. Information is provided by the Skamania Klickitat Community Network, a local group affiliated with the Washington State Family Policy Council.

• CASA VOLUNTEERS: Do you have a desire to help children who are living in foster care? Become a trained volunteer for Columbia Gorge CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). For more information, contact volunteer manager Susan Baldwin at (541) 386-3468 or send an e-mail query to susan.baldwin@cgcasa.net.

• VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Mid-Columbia Medical Center is seeking to add to its team of volunteers and offers a variety of volunteer opportunities. For more information, contact Marsha Davis, MCMC Volunteer Services at 296-7288.

Publication Rules

Announcements of nonprofit activities open to the general public, which may be of general interest, are published for free in What’s Happening on a space-available basis. Submissions are limited to 75 words or less. Please submit in writing (not accepted over the phone) to What’s Happening, The Chronicle, P.O. Box 1910, The Dalles, OR 97058, fax to (541) 298-1365, or e-mail eking@eaglenewspapers.com. Include your name, address and daytime phone number.