Come on down to the Board of Commissioners Monday May 20 for the final(?) hearing and find out if they adopt long awaited rules for Short Term Rentals (STRs) in Hood River County. The Commissioners held a first hearing in April and they are set to vote on the proposed changes at the May 20 hearing which starts at 6 pm at the County Administration Building, 601 State St. After a huge push from the public, the Commission will be deliberating on new rules that will require STR operators to be real residents of the STR property. Check out the petition to see comments from folks in Hood River on why these rules are needed. While we're hopeful that this code will be adopted, it's not done until the Board votes on the new code. Your presence at the hearing -either to give testimony or just to observe- will help. Under the proposed rules, only…
After 41 successful years, we've changed our name from Hood River Valley Residents Committee to Thrive Hood River. Our original 11-syllable name carries decades of significance — and we’re so proud of that legacy — but we're excited to modernize with a simpler, welcoming name and logo. Re-introducing ourselves as “Thrive Hood River” doesn't just shorten our name, it captures what we do: Working to shape a thriving community for all. “We want to engage more people in the long-term choices ahead,” said Thrive board president Dale Hill. “As we enter our fifth decade, we’ve left behind the view that land-use planning is wonky, paper-shuffling for consultants. Facing Hood River’s growth is everybody’s business – This place is changing, but changing into what?” “Can our kids walk or bike to school safely? Are local businesses prospering? Can the next generation of farmers afford land in the Hood River Valley? Will working…
We're pretty excited about the goodies that we will be auctioning at H is for Harvest, our big fall fundraiser, October 13, 6 pm at The Ruins, Hood River (tickets available here). If you've got your eyes on an item but can't make the event, contact Polly Wood or (541) 490-5443 to place an absentee bid. In keeping with our mission, our live auction also spells S-T-E-W-A-R-D-S-H-I-P: S is for Summer Art Camp at Leslie Smith’s Kid’s Creations for 7 days. This is the classic Hood River summertime experience and creative release for your little one. Each day camp art session runs from 10 until 3 pm Monday – Friday. Supply your child or grandchild with a sack lunch and they will frolic for hours with various art mediums and let those creative juices flow. T is for Totally Gorgeous ceramics by Hood…
What is it? Streets Alive! temporarily closes a few traffic lanes in the Heights to vehicles so that people of all ages can freely walk, bike, play and share food, music and art with their neighbors. This will be a day to celebrate what's great about the Heights and Hood River with amazing food, participatory art projects and live music on porches throughout the neighborhood. Check out StreetsAliveHR.com for more info. We'll also be testing out some demonstration street treatments on 12th and 13th Streets based on ideas that Dan Burden suggested in his Heights Walkability Report. The cool kids call it Tactical Urbanism or DIY Urbanism or Planning-by-Doing. We'll be using low-cost materials like chalk paint and haybales to experiment with potential street design changes like curb extensions and protected bike lanes. VOLUNTEERS needed! Are you a musician, artist, restaurant, Heights’ homeowner, or a resident who wants to be a block captain, roving cyclist, intersection monitor, social media maven, demonstration assembler…
H is for Harvest Saturday October 13, 6-9 pm The Ruins, Hood River Please join us at our 4th Annual H is for Harvest fundraiser on Saturday, October 13th at The Ruins (formerly Springhouse Cellar) for a harvest inspired evening of live music, delicious food, local wine, and exciting auction items that celebrate our beautiful county and its bounty–and support our work. A is for the AMAZING items in our live and silent auctions. The charming Steven Talbot, Talbot Benefit Auctions will be master of ceremonies as we offer a slew of intriguing lots like the ever popular one night’s stay for 24 people (family reunion site?) with dinner and breakfast at Timberline's historic Silcox Hut, a week's stay in the beautiful Tuscan hill town of Cortona, Italy, a MountNBarrel bike tour through Hood River’s wine country for 4, a week of Leslie Smith’s Art Camp for your little one, 2 tickets to an Oregon Shakespeare Festival…