Rain may have dampened the attendance figures at this year’s Portage Days celebration in Cascade Locks, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the Portage Days committee as it begins making preparations for the coming year’s celebration.

Proposed construction of a $440,000 furnished building to replace May Street School is expected to be voted on by the city district three early next month. The proposed structure would increase the number of classrooms from nine to 14 and would provide a cafeteria for a hot-lunch program and facilities for large banquets of a community nature, the school board explained.

Pears are one of my favorite fruits. I eat at least one a day at breakfast through the fall and winter. In fact I have my own pear tree that contains two varieties, Bartlett and Bosc that pollinate each other. But unlike apples I can’t eat the fruit right off the tree.