HOOD RIVER — For the first time in Mayor Paul Blackburn’s tenure, the Hood River City Council met as a quorum at the Hood River Middle School auditorium, hearing questions and concerns on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from a passionate, but sparsely populated audience on April 23.

HOOD RIVER — Public engagement begins in May for the Port of Hood River’s next Strategic Business Plan (SBP), which will update a planning document last completed in 2021, just after the COVID pandemic.

The 45th annual Northwest Cherry Fest took place in The Dalles on April 24–26 with events ranging from fun runs to carnival rides — and yes, the much-anticipated parade, as seen above.

THE DALLES — The Dalles City Council voted 4-1 to approve a $3.4 million contract with Ajax Northwest LLC at its April 13 meeting, advancing the Federal Street Plaza project — water feature included — toward development.

HOOD RIVER — City council had several items to work through at its April 13 meeting. But one they didn’t was the Marriott Hotel appeal that was slated to go before council that night, but was withdrawn by developers the week prior.

BINGEN — “Latin music makes you want to move,” said Jen Sotolongo, the event organizer of Baila Sin Parar, a Latin-themed dance fitness class.

HOOD RIVER — As a young lawyer, Vicky Stifter went to El Salvador in the mid-1980s to work with a human rights organization in the midst of war.

THE DALLES — Wasco County commissioners agreed to buy a downtown parcel for $3.08 million and immediately lease it back to the private developer building the Basalt Commons housing and commercial project on April 1.

THE DALLES — The Mid-Columbia Interagency Narcotics Task Force (MINT) arrested two locals for drug violations, including possession and delivery within 1,000 feet of a school, April 2.

HOOD RIVER — Scammers in parking lots are apparently making a nice profit recently, selling the public cheap jewelry they say is solid gold.

THE DALLES — Each month, from April to October, the city’s Beautification and Tree Committee picks a different garden to highlight. The von Borstels were officially recognized at an award ceremony held in their garden April 6, where they received a hat to keep and a carved wooden sign announ…