Ellen created, and served
I wish I could say I was a friend of Ellen Dittebrandt’s, or even a co-worker or an acquaintance. But as one who merely watched her from afar, I can say that I admired her with all my heart.
My first introduction to Ellen was through her artwork. If you know Ellen only as a runner, outdoor enthusiast, firefighter or coffee shop frequenter, then I’d like to suggest that you only know the tip of this mighty iceberg of a woman, and really, it’s time for you to at least go to her website and behold a little of what this woman left to us. Really. Go do it. Right now. Even better, go see it in person. Make some time to stand quietly before one of her landscapes and let her show you a world unperceived by the rest of us. You may think you’ve seen the Gorge, but she saw it more. The colors! As if color was her wine and nature her poetry.
The second thing I learned about Ellen was that she was a firefighter. At first I struggled to understand how the creator of these visions of artistic loveliness could be a firefighter. Wouldn’t she be too busy schmoozing in L.A. to fight fires? But then I actually met Ellen. And I knew in an instant there was no one I would rather have crashing down my door to save me and my loved ones from a burning building than this fearless, larger-than-life, Amazon of a woman who stood before a canvas as fearlessly as she stood before a blazing house.
In fact, the only thing more staggering than her physical presence and her artwork was Ellen’s humility. I once had the opportunity to fawn over her and tell her how much I loved her paintings while we stood in line for coffee one day. She seemed genuinely surprised that I knew who she was and knew anything about her artwork. I told her how much I regretted not being able to afford one her paintings and she offered to let me make payments of five dollars a month!
This life is so brief and our days are precious. The Ellen I knew from afar spent her days creating beauty and serving her community. “You’ve got one life to live to live it well,” is what we’re often sold on as the pinnacle of living, but Ellen had it figured right; she had one life to give and she gave it well.
Jana Hannigan
Hood River
Nystrom for House
Voters in Oregon’s House District 52 have an opportunity to elect a candidate who cares deeply about two issues important to Oregon and our district: funding for our schools, and balancing the need for more jobs with the need for protecting our environment.
Stephanie Nystrom is that candidate. She focuses on issues and follows through. As a small business owner, Stephanie has partnered with local colleges to develop innovative job trainings. She is the kind of problem solver we need in Salem. Please join me in voting for Stephanie Nystrom in November.
Mike Persons
Sandy
Retain Johnson
As we move into the fall season our family, like many others in Columbia Gorge, will celebrate an important milestone: this year my daughter will make the “great leap” to kindergarten. We anticipate she will have a productive and successful experience in our local school district being instructed by great educators with a great curriculum. Now, more than ever, our community needs to send Salem the message that our schools are our top priority. That is why I’m happy to support Mark Johnson in his re-election.
On Sept.4, Mark is hosting an Education Forum between statewide officials and local education leaders. Presenters will discuss education priorities for 2015 and the practicality of local implementation. One of the priorities is a third grade reading initiative, which Mark has strongly supported. With a daughter just beginning her education, this is the kind of policy solution I want my local legislator to advocate for on behalf our kids.
As Mark’s colleague on the Hood River County School Board, I can attest to the dedication he brings to improving education. Mark works hard to create policy that benefits our kids and is the type of community leader that our state needs working in Salem. Our community is fortunate to have a legislator who truly understands the impact policies created in Salem have on our communities. Join me in strongly supporting Mark Johnson for State Representative.
David Russo
Hood River
Support Nystrom
On behalf of the neighbors and friends that joined us at our house last Thursday night, I would like to once again thank State Representative candidate Stephanie Nystrom for meeting with us to discuss the needs of our community. We appreciate the personal attention and the close contact.
She seemed very genuine, and gave a good account of why she wants to represent us in Salem. She took the time to listen to our concerns and answer our questions too.
I was particularly encouraged to hear about Stephanie’s passion for workers’ rights. It turns out she is a strong proponent of equal pay for equal work, earned sick days, increasing the minimum wage and a path to a secure retirement.
After hearing what she has to say, I’m quite convinced that the working families of District 52 would be well served to have Stephanie Nystrom representing them in the Oregon State Legislature.
Karen Trandum
Sandy
MHM lot needs fence
There are so many reasons why a parking lot in the community of Mount Hood is unacceptable, but if it happens then there are some things that should be addressed before they become a problem.
The lot should be fenced, gated and include a parking attendant. The gates should be one way in and the other an exit. The fence would block people from running into traffic to get to the Country Store or the Town Hall. The gates should also be aligned to any crosswalks across Highway 35 and Cooper Spur Road. If any traffic control improvements are necessary, then Mount Hood Meadows should be expected to pay for installation of crosswalks and maybe someday stop lights like those on Highway 26. It should cost the county and its taxpayers nothing!
Fencing is absolutely necessary to keep people out of neighboring orchards. I don’t think a planted vegetated filter strip is going to keep out those who think, “I’m only taking one pear.” What kind of spray buffer is required before customers start complaining about spots on their cars? When there are lines at the port-a-potties, fences would keep people from relieving themselves in the orchard.
Any lot must be supervised to prevent car prowls and to keep it from becoming a campground. The parking to at Edgefield in Troutdale is locked at night. How will MHM deal with this?
Whatever is done it will have an impact on the community of Mount Hood. If this parking lot cannot be located somewhere else, there are issues that must be addressed before it is built.
Jim Hammermeister
Mount Hood
World Cup ‘slavery’
As the World Cup mania has died down and media attention has turned to the more grim and violent situation in Israel, there has been one story continually ignored by most media outlets. The World Cup host is going to be Qatar in 2022, and even though the oil-filled country is one of the richest in the world, they are using slaves to build their world cup stadiums. The workers are paid 50 cents an hour.
Most of them also have no way of getting home, because the Qatar authorities have taken their passports. They endure insane and inhumane working conditions in the 100-plus degree sun. To make matters worse, 1,200 people have already died, for an event that’s still eight years away. This is completely against the idea of the World Cup bringing people together (in celebration, not in mass suffering and death), and FIFA has once again shown itself to be completely useless and inactive. This is the kind of issue our government should get active in and start exerting its influence on as the most powerful country in the world. If I had to choose between obsessing over North Korea’s silly threats and stopping brutal slavery, it’s obvious to me what I would pick. We as citizens need to put pressure on our government and others to stop Qatar from using slaves. Citizens standing up one by one to demand equal rights for people is vital if we want to end horrible things like slavery. It’s the only thing that’s ever succeeded.
For more information and to get involved, you can go to walkfree.org, and sign the petition and learn how to get involved.
Austin “Texx” Spezia-Shwiff
Hood River
Facts about Hwy. 35 wreck
The facts of the accident on Highway 35 at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014 are as follows.
The red Toyota Corolla was eastbound on Central Vale Drive, not Booth Hill Road.
The Chevy pickup was dark forest green, not black.
Wes Baker was transported to the Hood River hospital by his aunt with injuries to his chest, shoulders and neck. He hit the steering wheel.
I realize that Wes’s injuries are non-life threatening, but they will keep him from work for a while, and make it hard for his family. He lost his means of transportation all because somebody blew through a stop sign in front of him.
Linda Burris
Hood River
Editor’s note: The Aug. 25 article used information provided by the Oregon State Police.
Commented