- The Hood River County Library District has updated their temporary closure dates. They will now tentatively be closed through April 28, 2020. This date is subject to change based upon recommendations and guidelines from the Center for Disease Control, Oregon Health Authority, Governor Kate Brown and Hood River County public health officials.
- Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust has closed its two public preserves, Mosier Plateau and Lyle Cherry Orchards, to the public. Said Director Dan Bell, "People at crowded trailheads, parking areas, and overlooks have little opportunity to follow proper social distance guidance. Local land managers are faced with increased health threats while cleaning and maintaining public lands throughout the Gorge. But most importantly, keeping these trails open at this time could present a very real risk to our neighbors. Moving forward, we will follow the guidance of health officials and work with community partners to determine when it is time to re-open trails on our public preserves."
- Hood River County Forestry Department is closing all recreational staging areas and their restroom facilities until further notice. The closure includes Post Flats, Family Man, Binns Hill, and Pinemont Drive staging areas. The trail system will remain open at this time. Please take inclement weather conditions into consideration to limit damage to trails. "The County recognizes the trail system provides an opportunity for users to foster a healthy mental and physical state," said a press release, "The goal is to keep everyone healthy and safe by adhering to the practice of social distancing and dispersed recreation on the tree farm."
- Only six Oregon DMV offices will be open, by appointment only, for commercial driver knowledge tests and commercial driver license issuance beginning Wednesday, March 25. Many DMV services remain available through OregonDMV.com and through the mail. With the exception of commercial driver knowledge tests and commercial driver license issuance, no other services will be available at DMV offices. Limits on public access will be in effect until April 28, unless conditions allow DMV to open more offices sooner. Offices open for CDL appointments are: Baker City, Bend, Hermiston, Medford, North Salem, and Southeast Portland.
- All City offices are closed to the public as of 5 p.m. on March 17. The City continues all operations and staff can be reached by phone, email and online. Public Works, Police, and Fire/EMS are keeping normal hours and availability while taking necessary precautions in interfacing with staff and the public. Water-shut offs and late payment fees, penalties, and interest suspended.
The City of Hood River has closed its public facilities In order to promote social distancing and public health. The closures affect parks, public restrooms, and sports facilities (such as basketball or tennis courts).
The list of facilities closed include Waterfront Park, Jackson Park, Children’s Park, Tsuruta Tennis Courts, Collins Field and neighborhood parks.- The Port of Hood River will close all its waterfront parks until further notice. The Port closures affect the Hook access road, the Event Site beach, the Nichols Basin beach and docks, the Spit Access parking lot, the Marina Green, the Marina Park, and the Marina Swim Beach. The Waterfront Trail will remain open for walking, jogging, and dog walking but users are urged to comply with Governor Brown’s order to maintain a six-foot distance between people at all times and groups of more than 2 people are not allowed. Signs will be posted at the closed areas as soon as possible.
- The Corps of Engineers has closed all USACE visitor centers and canceled all group events and reservations until further notice. All Corps-operated campgrounds will remain closed until May 21, and parks that are normally closed in the off-season will remained closed until further notice. These include: Robins Island and Bradford Island Parks, Takelma Day Use and Boat Ramp, Lost Creek Lake, Roosevelt Park and boat ramp, and John Day Lock and Dam.
- The Hood River County Health Department is doing phone-appointments for WIC, OHP, Home Visiting, HIV Case Management, Family Planning/Reproductive Health/Birth Control/Pregnancy test/STD, and Immunizations/shots; call 541-386-1115 to schedule an appointment. Most visits will be completed over the phone; if you need supplies, you will need to be in the parking lot for staff to deliver them.If you are entering the building for your appointment we ask that only the client receiving services enter the building (children receiving vaccines may enter with one adult).
- CAT — Columbia Area Transit — announced on March 17 that it will reduce service until April 1 in an effort to both curb the spread of COVID-19 and reallocate its resources to the county-wide emergency response. The bus will run at peak hours only: 7-10 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. For more information, visit the website at ridecatbus.org.
- Blossom Craft Show: Clara Rice, Hood River County Fair Board director, announced Monday that this year’s Blossom Craft Show and Quilt Sale, originally scheduled for April 18-19, has been canceled. “We join others in responding to the potential impact of COVID-19 to our community,” said Rice in a press release. “It is our priority to keep our visitors and vendors safe during this unprecedented time.
- The Orchard Lanes bowling tournament, set to continue this weekend, has been canceled.
- Hood River’s annual Community Easter Egg Hunt and Children’s Safety Fair at Jackson Park on April 1 has been canceled.
- The Meet and Greet for the Hood River County District Attorney Candidate Sean Kallery has changed locations from the library to an online forum. Constituents are invited to log on and ask Sean Kallery questions on March 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. More information available through voteforseankallery.com.
- The Boka Marimba concert at the Bingen Theater on March 28 has been canceled.
- The Serious Theater in The Dalles is closed until further notice, including scheduled auditions.
- The 2020 Census has been suspended field operations until April 1.
- Columbia Gorge Beekeeping Association canceled its in-person meeting for this week, but have scheduled a virtual meeting using the Zoom app for Wednesday, March 25 beginning at 6:15 p.m. Ellen Topitzhofer, facility research assistant, will be providing a presentation on honey bee diseases. The virtual meeting is new territory for CGBA, “but the board felt it imperative to engage with its members and others as the ‘bee season’ opens for the new year,” said a press release.
- Hood River Electric Co-op has closed its lobby to visitors. “As a precaution to COVID-19 Hood River Electric Cooperative will be closed to walk in visitors and new internet installations are suspended until further notice,” said a press release. “We will be happy to help you by phone or email during our office hours of 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Contact us at 541-354-1233 or info@hrec.coop. Payments can be made online at www.hrec.coop. Cash or credit card payments can be made through our North entrance.”
- Britta Willson, program coordinator for Volunteers in Action at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, said Monday that volunteers are still being sought for the annual Good Neighbor Saturday, planned for May 9; registration deadline to volunteer is March 30. However, Willson said, the event will likely be smaller and VIA is considering rescheduling the event for another time, which will be announced on or before April 1. To volunteer, contact Willson at 541-387-6404 or Brittany.willson@providence.org.
- Laurie VanCott, coordinator of both Mommy Wellness and Persistent Pain Education programs, Outpatient Therapy at Nichols Landing, said all education programs have been canceled. The programs may be rescheduled after exposure risk of COVID-19 has passed.
- St. Mary’s Catholic Church has canceled all Masses — weekday, Saturday vigil and Sunday — as well as communal penance services, Friday Stations of the Cross, prayer groups and all other activities, in accordance with mandates issued by Baker Diocese Bishop Liam Carey Monday. Funerals will be conducted with immediate family only with a memorial Mass to be scheduled at a later date if the family wishes; there will be no luncheons or receptions. These mandates are in place for at least the next two weeks.
- Hood River County Education Foundation has canceled the May 2 Take Me Back to Chicago concert. “The CDC and State of Oregon have mandated that no event shall take place with 10 people or more for eight weeks. Since the concert was also in a school facility, the decision to cancel was necessary. We are hoping to reschedule for a later date, but a new date can’t be chosen until we know it is safe to do so,” said Mike Schend of the Foundation. Possible dates could be September or October. The Hood River County Education Foundation and Ticket Tomato will alert ticket holders as soon as a new date has been set.
- Cycle Oregon has postponed its first event of the season, GRAVEL, from May 15-17 until Oct. 9-11.
Listings compiled as of 10 a.m. Wednesday.
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