Your art center
The Columbia Center for the Arts has been a focal point for the arts for Hood River and the surrounding area for 10 years, fulfilling its mission to provide art experiences that touch the heart, challenge the intellect, and spark conversation.
During that time I’ve had the pleasure to work with an array of wonderful people comprised of staff and volunteers, all dedicated to bringing arts to the Gorge. Humans are a creative lot, and we use the arts to express fears, work out anger and sorrow, and feel joy, show compassion and love. Art brings us together, exposes common bonds, allows freedom to experiment, and teaches discipline.
The center is unique to our small community. Such venues are usually only found in larger cities. Its existence is evidence of the value we place on the arts in our lives. It’s a part of what makes Hood River special. And it will continue as long as we as a community value and support it.
As an organization, Columbia Arts operates in a fluid environment, meaning it is what we make it. It is a creative endeavor as well as a business, and reflects the input of all involved. It’s a canvas that’s never complete, where the board, staff, and community always needs to step back, look at what has been done, and decide what might be added or even removed to balance the composition as well as to maintain stability and sustainability. Its vibrancy depends on consistent input and change. In other words, it needs all of us — including you. It needs your ideas, it needs your time, and it needs your financial support.
If you agree that the center is a valuable part of the community that deserves support, then please come in, check it out, talk with our Executive Director Kerry Cobb and the rest of the awesome staff and board of directors, hear firsthand all the exciting things that are happening now, talk about the future of arts in the Gorge, and add your hand to the creation that is Columbia Center for the Arts.
Chris Smith
Finance Manager
Columbia Center for the Arts
Hood River
Sexist attack
For those who are “concerned” about Hillary Clinton’s email account, consider the following:
In October of 2015, it was revealed that not only was present CIA Director John Brennan still using an AOL personal email account, but he was using it for official business and it was hacked and top secret information breached.
In October of 2015, it was revealed that not only was present Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson using his personal Comcast email account for official business, but it was hacked and top secret information was breached.
In October of 2015, it was revealed that not only was present Director of National Intelligence James Clapper still using an AOL personal email account, but he was using it for official business and it was hacked and top secret information was breached. This is the same person who lied under oath to Congress and the American people that the National Security Agency was not intercepting everyone’s email.
In January of 2016, it was revealed that not only was present Secretary of Defense Ash Carter using his personal email account for official business, but it was hacked and top secret information breached.
What is the difference between all of the foregoing men and Hillary Clinton? Not only are they all men who used their personal email accounts for official government business, but their accounts were hacked and top secret information breached. Hillary Clinton is female, but her email account was not hacked, nor top secret information revealed.
So why is Hillary Clinton being investigated and hectored about her email account and none of the men are being called to account? Some mysteries apparently do not have answers or may never be solved.
Lance S. Stryker
White Salmon, Wash.
Embarrassed
Has Hood River become the subject of a story in The Onion?
The facts:
We have activist members of city council and a sympathetic mayor.
There is an issue (perhaps non-issue) that they wish to address.
A study is paid for and adopted with hope that it justifies radical action — it does not.
The city ignores their own study recommendations and pursues radical action anyway.
Two activist council members must recuse themselves — one later resigns.
Action is rejected by a single vote.
Full council (including recused) appoints new councilor to be the tie breaking vote.
Tie breaking vote previously ran as partner to two of the other activist councilors.
Did this really just happen? I am truly embarrassed for us.
Brian Towey
Hood River
More praise for Avenue Q
Well, I can’t quite wipe the grin off my face. Avenue Q, directed by Mark Steighner and performed by a flawless combined cast of humans and puppets at the Columbia Center for the Arts is just the most fun I’ve had all summer. Pairing Dennis Castañares with puppet Trekkie: match made in heaven. And I will forever think of beautiful, stately Sheila Dale as, well, short has-been child actor Gary Coleman. If I called out any other performers, I’d be wrong — everyone was just outstanding. There are two more weekends: July 21-23, and 29-30. Here’s what I’m talkin’ about Willis: Get yourself there. (Important to note: This is adult entertainment not suitable for kids; language and adult situations.)
Kathy Watson
Hood River
Leave it in the ground
Esteemed Senators Merkley and Wyden, thank you very much, the pair of you, for the bill aimed at oil trains. Yes, any train wreck, such as the recent Mosier one, should be investigated by a third party (not just by the train officials), as is done with a downed or damaged plane. Bakken oil may be proved too volatile to ship by rail. Better yet, how about we leave it in the ground? No fracking way this should go on!
Alison McDonald Bryan
Hood River
Commented