The Columbia Gorge Food Bank (CGFB) - a member of the Oregon Food Bank Network, providing free nutritious food to more than 5,000 families per month through 43 community partners in Sherman, Wasco and Hood River counties - held their first ever fundraiser on October 6, and the first of what will become an annual Empty Bowls fundraiser.

South Wasco Alliance (SWA) is very pleased to announce the arrival of Clint Zarnosky, SWA’s second full time Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program service member.

South Wasco Alliance (SWA) hosted a strategic planning event on July 22 that connected representatives from over twenty local organizations and interest groups to learn more about how each organization and group contributes to the South Wasco community and how we might be able to work together to make our collective efforts easier and more effective. For the second year, the community planning session was facilitated by the Organizational Development Network-Community Consulting Project (ODN-CCP).

The College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University and Western University of Health Sciences brought a team of 9 students and 3 faculty to Tygh Valley in July. This one-health research program is designed to promote collaboration between medical, veterinary and environmental professionals, exposing students to a wide variety of careers.

The strawberry jam making session was taught by Wamic resident Gail Schiel using several different strawberry varieties. Participants were able to compare two strawberry varieties that were fresh from the field to store bought strawberries, and all agreed that the field strawberries that came directly from the farmer appeared noticeably darker in color and richer in taste.

On June 18, 2022, the South Wasco Farmers Market opened with a successful first day for its first ever season in Tygh Valley. With 9 vendors selling a wide variety of products and over 100 visitors stopping to shop, Tygh Valley Community Center (TSCC) was an inspiring space to be and offered just a sneak peak of the market’s potential to grow in the future.

Over the Maupin Days weekend, the Town and Country Players offered three different performances of their western melodrama entitled “Treachery at Cartilage Creek.” The play was a classic melodrama complete with a villain, a hero and a heroine. Eleven local actors of varying ages came together along with about fifteen other community members to put on the first Town and Country production in over two years.

Tribal presenters, Shamona Charley and Jillisa Suppah, introduced guests to samples of salmon, camas, choke cherries, freshly made fry bread, and traditional foods featuring deer meat and other tribal delicacies. The food was prepared over many hours by Shamona, Jillisa, and Joyce Suppah.

South Wasco Alliance and Tygh Valley Head Start are partnering for a second year on a community gardening program.

The SWCMS Student Council chose to put a large portion of their time and funds into community service projects this year. One such project was fulfilling many of the Secret Santa tickets for Canyon Rim Senior Living, while another is currently underway as they plan events for the elementary school students to participate in this spring.

The Confederated Tribes of The Warm Springs Reservation (CTWS) Tribal Council approved an investment of $4.58 million to repair and expand the Village from the Tribes’ American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, with an additional $1.5 million going towards improving the local wastewater system.

The Columbia River Gorge Quilters Guild is coming on February 28, 2022 to hang their quilts in the Southern Wasco County Library where they will remain a feature for two months.

Many of you are fans of the Imperial Bar and Grill that has been a part of the Imperial River Company for the past few years, but owners Valerie and Geoff White have decided to begin a new project and relocate to Wamic to open a new restaurant, The Stockyard.

Do you feel proud after you solve complex problems? Are you curious about how things work and enjoy thinking of different ideas and ways to solve one issue? Computer technology has grown exponentially in the last 30 years and will continue to grow. Employers need people just like you to help them manage or develop their technology needs.

Did you know that there is a bus that runs through South Wasco County?

Winter can be a tough season, with its unforgiving weather patterns and isolating temperatures, and though it may be harder to eat healthy foods when you can’t grow them right outside your door, that’s all the more reason to take advantage of some wonderful resources and webpages to help you enjoy your winter veggies through the coming snow storms.

Maupin Works is a small business hub that will support the small business community of South Wasco County. Located on Maupin’s main street at 410 Deschutes Avenue, the building will accommodate up to 24 businesses in coworking space, host regular networking and community building events, and provide direct resources and services to small businesses.

South Wasco Alliance, along with other local businesses and organizations, are partnering with Cycle Oregon to coordinate logistics and showcase a variety of complimentary activities that will introduce visiting cyclists to South Wasco local food, music, crafts, recreational amenities, and history.

Please help us welcome our new RARE member, Emily Wingard, to South Wasco Alliance & to South Wasco County! In case you missed it: RARE stands for Resource Assistance for Rural Environments, and the program matches rural communities with enthusiastic members who are able to build local capacity and advance needed projects in the area.

Oregon law provides some exemptions to licensing that make it easier for home chefs to produce and sell foods directly to customers. There are a few requirements that need to be met but overall these laws make it less confusing and cut through some of the red tape associated with starting a small food business.