Letters to the editor for July 19

I do, however, question an outdoor venue at Dee due to its limited usable calendar and possible weather damage each year. Would production be brought in to run this venue, as there is not a single company in the area with the gear capable of producing a show at that level? While the developer is local, who would be running this venue? Would it become another corporate Live Nation type venue? After reading the statement regarding the genres that are envisioned for this venue (“Our Readers Write” Jan. 29/outdoor-music-venue-Dee) “James Taylor and Mumford and Sons — ‘No Megadeth or Metallica,’” I think they might find it more difficult than they think to fill the seats and meet the artist’s guarantee with constant shows of similar varieties.

The small work being done at the port, which from an audio standpoint is destined to sound terrible unless it’s a VERY calm day, isn’t the solution either in my opinion. Well, maybe I should say it might sound great 10 miles down or up river depending on the wind that day.

It’s a shame that our “Expo” center is now a glorified storage building when Hood River is where people fish, ski, ride and so on, yet the expos for each of these is held in Portland. Never has made sense to me. This building could have been managed to bring in expos for these events that the area is held in high regard for as well as promoters for shows of all varieties in a venue that would allow all-year use.

Hoping for a well-thought-out venue in the area soon.

Chris Musgrave

Hood River

Keep calm

The Gorge is a destination.

This means that the water, the roads, the hiking trails can be crowded.

Our summer season is short. The influx of visitors is good news for business. The Gorge has the reputation for being wild and free, the sports are “extreme,” our mountains a challenge. Personal responsibility is, as always, key to success. This means share the roads and the water and respect Mother Nature’s power, whether it be the wind, the weather, or simple gravity and physics. Drivers, watch for cyclists. Sailors and kiters, understand right of way and simple survival (starboard tack means right arm ahead, and give way for safety’s sake, this isn’t a race). Stay calm. Breathe. See. Isn’t that what it’s all about anyway?

Laurie Balmuth

Hood River

Spay feral cats

The Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon, a nonprofit spay/neuter program for feral cats, is hosting a FREE spay/neuter special through August! The “Summer Spay Spectacular” special includes free spay/neuter surgery, vaccines, treatment for fleas, ear mites and tapeworms, long-term pain relief medication, antibiotics and an ear-tip for identification. There are no income or county restrictions to qualify for this special.

Surgeries are performed by licensed veterinarians and are sponsored by FCCO’s generous donors. Humane live traps and trapping instructions are available. Call 503-797-2606 to schedule an appointment or visit feralcats.com to get started.

Olivia Hinton

Portland

Old menu meets new

Much to my dismay, it appears that the rumor regarding the untimely departure of Taco Del Mar from our small town is all too real.

Upon walking into the once-familiar restaurant, I was immediately overcome with an unsettling perplexity as I laid my gaze on a sky- blue wall that read “El Rio Burrito Bar.” My heart immediately sank, but I was reassured at the sight of the recognizable staff and kitchenware.

My burrito was very familiar, yet the new owners were still able to put their own spin on the meal. They certainly have done exceptionally well adopting old menu items, perhaps even improving upon them. My main concern at this point is the possibility that this new restaurant is using up the last of the old Taco Del Mar’s ingredients that were left behind, and soon El Rio Burrito Bar will have an entirely original taste. I welcome this new local restaurant with open arms; however, I certainly will miss Taco Del Mar. I will always lament this loss.

Peter Dorich

Hood River