Gretchen & Mel Ahrens

Art With A Heart - Children's Art Sale & Auction

This is a great opportunity for gorge youth to help neglected and abused children through the creation and sale of beautiful art.

Benefitting the Children's Advocacy Center and Columbia Gorge CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), this fundraiser invites Middle school and high school children throughout Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Wheeler and Gilliam counties to create their work of art to donate.

Art can be individual or group creations in one of several mediums: glass, pottery, painting, photography, collage, jewelry, sculpture, fabric or drawings. All entries must be turned in to your school principal by March 15, 2012. Awards will be given for "Best of Show" to participants.

Wordless Wednesday - Sunrise Over Hood River, Oregon

I took this photo this morning in Hood River, just before the sun rose over the horizon. I couldn't believe the range of reds, purple and blues... even more amazing in person than I was able to capture in this photo. At least this is a taste of the glorious start to the day.

Wordless Wednesday - A Winter Mt. Hood From Washington

I took this photo a week or so ago, just outside of White Salmon, Washington, looking toward Mt. Hood across the Columbia River. Although the Gorge and valley haven't received a lot of snow so far this winter, Mt. Hood is still covered. This photo seems to be a study in whites, blacks and greys, with a little icy purple mixed in... truly winter colors.

Hood River Valley 3-6th Grade League Basketball Starts

Another season, another sport begins. In our household, you can tell what time of year it is by what sport our boys are playing and we are very pleased with the variety and quality of choices available to us here in the Hood River Valley. This week, our 11-year-old, Ben, started 3-6th grade youth basketball practice with games to start in two weeks. He's on the 5th and 6th grade Parkdale team (he's in the 5th grade). This year the team is made up of 11 players and their coaches are teammates' parents who volunteer their time to these youngsters. The team focuses on learning and improving basic basketball skills, athletitism, conditioning, good sportsmanship and on good old-fashioned "having fun"!

The league is organized through the Hood River County School District Community Education, which offers a huge variety of sports and classes for youth and adults in the Hood River Valley.

Here is Waldo! Come Meet This Little Sweetie... He Could Become Yours!

This little guy has been through a lot and somehow ended up with two fractures on his hip joint. He has taken the problem well, remains happy and cheerful and has been content to settle into shelter workers' laps while he recovers. The vet wants to see how the hip heals on its own, but it may require surgery down the road so Waldo needs owners who can afford that and any follow up care.

Waldo is just a baby and he is a Schnauzer. Isn't he just adorable? He's too young to be neutered, but he has all his shots and is microchipped. His adoption fee is $220, plus neuter deposit, cash or check only, please. However, we will forward $100 to the vet if surgical correction of the injury is required in 2012. The adoption fee is charged to help recover standard average veterinary expenditures for each dog.

Please call ahead to meet Waldo in Odell at the Hukari Animal Shelter 3910 Heron Dr, Hood River OR 97031. Call the shelter for more information 541-354-1083. Adoption hours are Wed 5-7 & Sat 9-11. You can download an application at: www.hoodriveradoptadog.org. You can fax your application to 1-877-833-7166.