Current News

By Rachael McDonald

A community land trust is breaking ground on six affordable homes in Blue River on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 for people who survived the Holiday Farm Fire.

The fire swept through the McKenzie River Valley on Labor Day 2020. 517 homes were lost in the blaze, which burned more than 173,000 acres.

Brandi Crawford Ferguson is interim Executive Director for McKenzie Community Land Trust. She said, after the fire, property values actually increased.

Locals and community members decided to establish the trust to help with rebuilding so that people who had been there for years could afford to stay. Ferguson said the MRLT project runs the entire McKenzie River corridor.

“We are starting in Blue River, in downtown Blue River, because that was the highest impact,” she said. “Blue River lost everything including the library, the fire station, the clinic, and main street. The only thing left was a red picnic table.”

Ferguson said the project, called Rose Street Homes, will be six 3 bedroom, 2 bath homes. Income qualified applicants must be full-time Blue River residents.

The groundbreaking is on Friday at 2 p.m. in downtown Blue River.

Meanwhile, Ferguson told KLCC, more of Blue River is coming back. The Fire Station and Health Clinic have been rebuilt.

And on Saturday, the O’Brien Memorial Library will hold its ribbon-cutting.

“And then Melanie Stanley is very close to breaking ground on the first business, the Meyer General Store, as well,” Ferguson said. “So, it’ll be a nice opportunity not only to celebrate these first six community land trust homes but also just to celebrate with the community that has worked so hard to rebuild.”

Ferguson said the homes are built to be fire safe. The land is part of Pure Water Partners, which works to keep properties cleared of debris and invasive plants which helps with fire safety.

To make it more affordable, the MCLT will sell each home to a qualified buyer, and not the land. The homebuyer then signs a 99-year lease on the land. The Rose Street homes will be complete by winter of 2025.

MCLT purchased its second parcel in Blue River earlier this year. Funding for the Rose Street neighborhood was provided by Oregon Housing and Community Services LIFT funding, Lane County, PacficSource and Eugene Water and Electric. DevNW is the developer for the project.

MCLT operating costs are funded by foundations and private donations.

This article first appeared on KLCC and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

By Steve Brown

Why do city councils need a quorum in order to make formal decisions?

Does the city manager have more or less authority than the mayor?

What are the city’s major departments?

Who creates the annual city budget?

If these questions leave you scratching your head, the City of Estacada’s inaugural Civics Academy may be for you.

The program is designed to give members of the community an inside look at the local government’s structure, projects and processes. The first cohort will meet from 6-8 p.m. Thursdays for six weeks beginning Jan. 13.

Each meeting will have a different topic and an opportunity to meet different members of local government. Topics will include: local government operations, budget, decision making, and overviews from departments. The culmination of this series will be a greater understanding of government operations and opportunities to get involved.

The city hopes this series helps residents feel more connected and involved in their community.

Program participation is free, but spots are limited so if you are interested in being a part of the city’s first Civics Academy fill out the form on the website — https://www.cityofestacada.org/civics-academy/ — or pick up an application at City Hall to apply for a spot. The city asks that all applicants be able to dedicate the time to attend a minimum of five of the six meetings. The deadline to apply is Dec. 16.

“The Civics Academy is a project which was identified from the council’s goal ‘Community Engagement and Education – Stronger Together Connections and Knowledge.’ This program educates community members on how their local government functions, what each department handles, and ways that they can get involved. We expect that residents who participate will complete the series with the ability to understand how their city runs,” said Melanie Wagner, city manager.

This article first appeared in Estacada News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection

(Lincoln City, Oregon) – June is officially Pride month in many places around the world and not just the U.S., celebrating LGBTQ+ culture and community in places like Australia, Hungary, the UK – and now the Oregon coast.

Lincoln City joins in the pride parties with a hefty helping of activities and events that show off an array of talents from around the Pacific Northwest. Lincoln City Pride Fest takes place on June 29, and is a family-friendly festival of riotous fun that takes place at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, sponsored by Explore Lincoln City, Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital, and Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital.

The lineup of performances and activities happen both indoors and outdoors, with most participants actually from around the central Oregon coast and Lincoln City area.

In that old-timey, historic auditorium, the spotlight will shine on drag performers. Kicking off the festivities at 1:30 PM, the fabulous drag pianist Sweeney Gray will set the stage on fire. Brace yourself for the dynamic lip-syncing extravaganza by the drag queen sister duo, Mai Faye Rit & Lexi Vaughn, at 2:45 PM. Following that comes captivating performances by Portland’s own drag artists – Max Little, Mars, Given, and The Infinite Urkscape – starting at 3:45 PM.

Miss Robbie Dee

And yet there’s still more frivolity to be had. Outdoors, the entertainment continues to sizzle. At 12:15 PM, the Conexión Fénix ballet folclórico dancers hit the stage, followed by the enchanting moves of the Hokus Pokie dance crew at 12:45 PM. Local singer-songwriter Kathy Redwine takes the spotlight at 1:30 PM, right after the Pedestrian Pride Parade. Get ready to groove to the modern alt-rock vibes of Katelyn Convery at 2:45 PM. And at 4 PM, it’s the haunting solo violinist Miss Robbie Dee, all the way from Florence. Wrapping up the day at 4:30 PM, there’s a performance by Lincoln City’s very own acoustic duo of wives, Alanna & Catherine Baumann.

The Poetry Path hosts the fun ‘n funky Pedestrian Pride Parade at 1 PM, where public participation is encouraged.

“All are invited to don their most fabulous attire and join the promenade around the Lincoln City Cultural Center’s grounds in celebration of queer love and joy,” said organizers.

Kathy Powers

Hungry? Thirsty? Here’s the ticket: Zeller’s Bar and Grill’s beer garden awaits, offering frosty brews and savory chowder. Then if your taste buds crave more, explore the food vendors for more central Oregon coast delights, with Bobablastic, Grub’s On, and La Wawa on-hand for the culinary adventures.

The rollicking times continue as the outdoor resource and vendor fair runs from 12 PM to 5 PM, featuring over 30 booths. Discover local and regional organizations, snag unique goods, and dive into educational materials.

Indoors, let your creativity soar. Sponsored by Tah-Lume: Curiosities and Gifts, the Dance Studio invites you to craft paper crowns and contribute to a commemorative community art journal. Royalty awaits within.

For those seeking a moment of tranquility, a quiet room in the yoga studio will provide a safe space to slow down for a moment. New Moon Yoga teachers will also guide peaceful meditations, schedule to be posted on the studio door during the event.

“LC Pride Fest is a celebration of Lincoln City’s queer community, because we deserve it! It’s my hope that this festival becomes an unforgettable day full of queer joy, resilience, and love,” said organizer Zoe Vincent. “Please join us on June 29th to support our small but mighty town’s LGBTQ+ community. It’ll be all kinds of fun!”

For details or to contribute, contact Vincent at 541-994-9994, zoe@lc-cc.org.

www.lincolncity-culturalcenter.org

This article first appeared on Oregon Coast Beach Connection and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

By Grace Wesson, RARE AmeriCorps Member at OSU-Extension

On one of the first bright, sunny days of spring, I met with Mary Repar to interview her. Mary gave me a croissant and we sat out in the sun together. She shared her story while I listened, jotting down notes.

It’s hard to come up with just one sentence to describe Mary. It feels like she has lived many lives in one, weaving together her experiences as a geophysicist, a veteran, an immigrant and an advocate. In Mary’s words, “I’ve had a lot of variety in life.” Her enduring hope and unique perspectives broaden her advocacy for causes ranging from environmentalism to affordable housing.

Mary was born in Croatia, and her family immigrated to the United States in 1959. She credits her upbringing, especially her mother, for her dedication, work ethic and courage. She was taught that there is no such thing as failure, just an opportunity to do something different.

“’The world is your oyster’ may be a cliche, but it really is,” Mary reflected.

In 1990, Mary moved to the Gorge from Houston, Texas, to be closer to family. Mary jokes that she was “here by mistake,” settling in “the last apartment in Stevenson.” The town of Stevenson, with a population just under 1,500, has become a very important place for Mary over the years. “There is so much to do in our community,” she said.

Mary lived in the same rental in Stevenson for 29 years. However, in 2019, her rent increased drastically, jeopardizing the living situation for her and her cats. Housing insecurity and the resulting stress galvanized Mary’s advocacy.

She found that many others struggled with housing insecurity, too. Mary emphasized that educators and first responders often can’t find affordable housing in the Gorge, and there could be a greater threat to workforce housing in the future.

The data shows that more folks are in unstable housing situations or are worried about housing. The 2022 Columbia Gorge Regional Community Health Needs Assessment found that 13% of survey respondents had insecure or unstable housing, a large increase from 6.8% in 2019. Mary cares deeply and speaks passionately about this community issue: “If the asteroid hits tomorrow, will the money do anything for you? What about friends? Neighbors?”

Her community-based problem solving led to her involvement with the Homeless Housing Council and the Healthy Skamania Advisory Board, where she advocates for sustainable solutions and policy change. “You’re going to have to change — why not change incrementally, not waiting until your survival is on the line?” she asked.

Mary emphasizes the importance of “learning something new every day,” especially when it comes to large, complex problems.“These issues make our heads hurt – you have to spend time and effort to understand them,” she said.

Wellness among older adults is another of Mary’s passions. For example, Mary just started a term with the Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington, with the goal of enhancing nutrition, transportation, and the Meals on Wheels program. She also worked in home aide care for five years.

Mary centers seniors in her work with the Stevenson Community Garden. “I grow food for the seniors in one plot,” she said.

The Stevenson Community Garden, located at the west side of the Skamania Fair Grounds, was formerly sponsored by Stevenson Grange No. 121. Under Mary’s leadership, the Stevenson Grange was re-certified and won honors from The National Grange. It now offers a variety of events, like community resiliency workshops, film screening series, and the two annual plant and seed swaps.

Local animals also benefit from Mary’s contributions. For the last 17 years, she has been feeding the cats in downtown Stevenson, affectionately named Missy, Big T, and Cuddler.

When she isn’t busy at the Grange or at local advocacy coalitions, Mary loves to spend time outdoors foraging for mushrooms or simply appreciating the beauty of the Gorge. She recalled watching double rainbows over Rowena Crest, surrounded by grass widows and wild cucumbers.

Mary’s gratitude for nature and the beauty of our community reignited my own hope. “If you pay attention to nature, you notice differences…you have a connection. If you lose connection, you lose caring,” she reflected.

As we wrapped up our conversation, Mary and I watched a sparrow hop along the sidewalk. “No two are alike,” Mary laughed. “Nature is amazing.”

This article first appeared on Columbia Gorge News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

By Sarah Akbari, Klamath Grown RARE AmeriCorps Member

By David Hayes