Future Skatepark in Mosier

An exciting new community project by Main Street Mosier

Small towns are full of charm, and Mosier is no exception. Often, though, they earn reputations for lacking youth-centered activities that foster strong social bonds, resilience, community, and skill-building. Skating, despite its own outdated reputation, offers all of those things. Over the past several months, Main Street Mosier has been working toward building a skatepark in downtown Mosier. Such a feature would be a welcome destination for local skaters, kids and adults alike, building on the foundation of the existing skating community in the gorge.

A well-known member of that community was Jacob Rogers until his unexpected death in 2019, at the age of 23. Jacob was born and raised in Mosier where he attended Mosier Elementary school. Skateboarding was a theme for much of his art and writing assignments. He started scootering and skateboarding when he was 5 or 6 and would ride at the Mosier school and the Mosier Cherry Growers parking lot. He made many friends and learned life lessons from this sport. 

Many folks in Mosier knew Jacob, but none knew him like his fellow skaters. Some of those who grew up skating with Jacob now have the skills to help make a skatepark in Mosier a reality—real world experience in getting parks built in other places. 

His mother, Andrea, has a delightful story about walking through town with Jacob as a kid. “Wouldn’t it be great if Mosier had a skatepark?” she asked him. He scoffed his response, “That’ll NEVER happen.”

With the help of Jacob’s friends and the town he loved, Main Street Mosier hopes to prove him wrong and to dedicate the finished park in honor of his memory.

“Jacob loved growing up in Mosier. This skate park in his memory is a fantastic way to honor him.” - Andrea Rogers

While this project is still in the early exploratory phase, there is unanimous and enthusiastic support from City Council as well as excitement among the many local folks we’ve spoken to in person. At the most recent City Council meeting, Main Street Mosier proposed that the park be built on the eastern end of the land the City received in the UPRR settlement; east of the proposed Mosier Center site.

The first phase of the park will be 3,000-5,000 sq ft with the hope of expanding in future phases. Being a community-driven project with no paid staff the timeline may be a bit extended, but our hope is to have a skateable park by summer of 2024.

The park itself will work with and exist within standing living trees in the area and the design will address safety in relation to the railroad and to the creek, and will also accommodate habitat conservation as well as the cultural resources previously found in the area. The park would only be open during daylight hours, and will therefore not affect the Dark Sky lighting restrictions.

Someday we'll make the plea for donations from anyone interested in helping fund the project, but for now we and City Council would like the community's feedback on the location and on the project in general. Click the button below to share your thoughts by July 15th.

Mosier City Council will be asked to approve the location at their July 20th meeting and will welcome feedback during the public comment period of that meeting, in addition to the responses we receive here.

This is a big undertaking and we can use your help. If you'd like to get involved, please reach out to Manny Rincon or Main Street Mosier.

More information can be found in the presentations given to City Council. Click here to view the full slideshow from the initial project introduction to City Council in March, and click here for the location proposal presentation from June.

Local Events in July

Fourth of July Celebrations

FHCRH Annual Antique Auto Tour
July 9, 2022

The tour begins and ends at the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM), 1600 Air Museum Road, Hood River, OR 97031. Leaving between 12:30 and 1pm, it will proceed through Hood River to the Senator Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead just east of the city, then drive along the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, through the Mosier Twin Tunnels, through Mosier to Rowena Crest and return to WAAAM.

The purpose for this tour is to allow people that cannot walk to the Mosier Twin Tunnels an opportunity to experience them, so owners of vehicles willing to take passengers were encouraged to register.  A maximum of 80 vehicles, c. 1949 and earlier may participate.

The Friends of the Historic Columbia River Highway supports the restoration and reconnection of the historic highway through the Columbia River Gorge.  Our Vision is to educate the public about the historic highway, advocate for the restoration and preservation of the existing drivable portions of the historic highway to their 1920s appearance and link drivable portions with pedestrian and bicycle accessible connections, creating a continuous route through the Columbia River Gorge.

Mosier Community News

Community Spanish Club
Every other Monday, 6:15 - 7:30pm
Mosier Senior Center

The newly formed Spanish club began a few months ago. It’s open to adults who have begun studying or are just in need of opportunities to learn more or just practice speaking Spanish.

Our club meets every two weeks on Mondays nights from 6:15 to 7:30 pm at the Mosier Senior Center at 500 East 2nd Street. Each class begins with a short lesson on aspects of the language such as grammar and vocabulary with cultural nuances that help bring the language closer to real life in different countries. We then go into conversations on the day’s topic at different levels. 

If you would like to join us or get more information please email Joe Wyatt at jwyatt12350@gmail.com with a phone number.
 

New Dog Bowl in Totem Plaza

A fresh and shiny new water bowl appeared in Totem Plaza last week, courtesy of Dog River Pet Supplies in Hood River. Owners Molly and Sean live in Mosier and want all the Mosier pets to be healthy, happy, and hydrated. Molly even left a scrub brush so pet owners can offer the freshest drinking experience to their walking buddies.

Thanks, Molly and Sean!

- Dogs of Mosier

 

Wasco County Planning Updates

The Wasco County Planning Department kicked off the 2022 Land Use and Development Ordinance (LUDO) Update by releasing draft revisions.  While many of the proposed changes are mandatory, there are some draft updates to the farm and forest zones that need public feedback including new accessory forest dwellings in the (F-2) forest zone, and several new uses for the farm zone.  Review one sheet overviews, take surveys, and review drafts on the project website: https://wasco2040.com/legislative-updates/

Work also continues on the Wasco County Community Wildfire Protection Plan.  There is a survey for public input available on the Wasco County website.
 

Business Only Hazardous Waste Collection Event
July 15th, Hood River

The Tri-County Hazardous Waste & Recycling Program is holding a business only hazardous waste collection event on July 15th in Hood River. We currently have 12 available spots and are asking businesses who could benefit from this event to register at least one week in advance. Click the link below or contact Morgaine Riggins for further information. 

https://tricountyrecycle.com/hazardous-waste/business/

See the full 2022 Hazardous Waste Collection Event Schedule here.
 

Broadband Action Team Internet Survey
from MCEDD and Wasco County

Accessible, affordable, and reliable internet Is an essential piece of infrastructure for our community. The Wasco County Broadband Action Team (BAT) has worked with partners to support a regional Broadband Speed Survey. Your response to this survey will provide information on the internet service needs in the region and help:

• clearly identify gaps in high-speed Internet service

• ensure that funding decisions can be made based on accurate service information

• learn about how we are using broadband today

Please complete the broadband survey at:  https://bit.ly/Speed-Survey

Questions? Please contact Natasha Blaircobb at Natasha@mcedd.org or 541-296-2266.

Main Street Mosier News

Mosier Fest 2022

Mosier Fest is coming back in 2022!

Save The Date: Sunday, August 7th

MSM Business Membership Kick-Off This Fall!

Our Economic Vitality Committee has been working on creating a Business Level membership for Mosier businesses that are interested in getting more involved. Businesses in Mosier will soon be receiving personal invitations to attend our business member kickoff event in September where we'll discuss the ways Main Street Mosier can help support businesses and our local economy and connect business owners with each other and with local folks who could be customers, colleagues, partners, friends, neighbors... the list goes on!

Main Street Mosier is a 501(c)(3) organization. Our Mission is to improve the quality of life in Mosier through community development, sustainable business, and historical preservation.

You may reach Elizabeth McNannay, MSM Board President, and Main Street Mosier Executive Director, Sam Trelstad, via email at mainstreetmosier@gmail.com.

Mosier City News

From the Mayor's Perch

In an effort to keep the community more informed with the happenings in the city, I will write monthly updates via our great resource of the newsletter. It's only taking nearly 8 years for me to do this!

The city and our city counselors do our best to serve the entire community of Mosier in what ways we can, as this is your town, even though you don't have the right to vote us in or out! We always appreciate your input on what is going on and we want to try to do better about having information available on our website and of course at the hub of the city, which is Brenna's market!  Brenna is now on our city council and is always willing and able to take notes or suggestions that can be passed on at a city council meeting. 

We do our best to take care of the needs of our citizens, but we have a very small staff of one, plus some awesome consultants, who have a very full plate.  Triage is often the working principle but we also do try to think and plan ahead.

Some things going on at the moment in the city include the design of a bike hub and public restrooms on the south side of Highway 30, just east of MoCo. This is fully funded by a grant we received from OPRD.  This will be the first public restroom in Mosier since the gas station closed!  The bike hub will be part of a gorge wide network that was initiated by Mosier’s own Kathy Fitzpatrick many moons ago, and will include a tool station and map and trail information. The design will be presented to city council in July.

Across the street from the Hub will soon be two high speed EV chargers, also fully funded by a grant from Pacific Power!  We hope that this is installed and functioning by the end of the summer even.

The restoration at the UPRR crash site is also soon underway.  This was delayed because for 2 years after the crash DEQ was still doing biosparging to remove the remnants of Bakkan crude oil in the ground. We should have the latest design presented to city council in July and will most likely start the plantings after the busy summer season winds up.  We will still have free parking on the outside of the new gate that will be installed at the entrance to Rock Creek Park, and of course the park will remain accessible to pedestrians and bikers free of charge. To park inside, day and season passes will be available at Brenna’s Market. We will soon post some guidelines at the beach to help the various users (swimmers, kiters, windsurfers, kite foilers and dogs) know best practices for sharing this precious resource.

Another very exciting upcoming improvement, fully funded by ARP, will be to transform our wastewater treatment plant into wetland/tertiary treatment, eliminating direct discharge into the Columbia RIver at last! John Grim, our long time city engineer, is overseeing this project (as well as several others).

We are continuing with construction documents for the Mosier Center, and though we are daunted by the escalating costs of EVERTHING, we have confidence that we can reach the finish line. As part of our effort to secure necessary funding, the city council has voted to sell Tax Lot 1600, which was the former site of the emergency well before we realized that the aquifer beneath it was problematic. We have relocated that well to a site up Mosier Creek, and the sale of this land, surrounded by residential property, will help cover the extra cost of the emergency well as well as help provide more funding towards the Mosier Center.  We do take these decisions very seriously, and there will be time for public comment, but the council feels that this will be for the greatest good of the community long term. Also, as we are an oasis surrounded by State Park, forest service, open space and the Columbia RIver, this aligns with enabling more housing in our very limited residential areas.  There is more info on the Moser Center on our city website: cityofmosier.com/projects/.  We will do more local fundraising in the fall, perhaps another event at the Portland Timbers Stadium, as last year’s was quite successful!

That is probably enough to digest, but I will do my best to provide updates and more info with each newsletter!

- Arlene Burns, Mayor of Mosier

Next City Council Meetings: July 6th & July 20th, 6:30pm

JUF (Mosier Center) Committee Meeting: July 18, 2:00pm

Mosier Fire News

Changes in the Mosier Fire District Leadership

Mosier Fire Chief Mike Renault resigned on June 15th, effective July 5th. He will be taking a job as a regional coordinator with the Oregon Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM). He has informed the volunteers and board that he will still be able to assist Mosier with various operational tasks. 

Mosier Fire has begun short, medium, and long term planning for the district. In the short term, Chief Mike Renault has helped the district get a grant from the OSFM to pay for two firefighters for the summer wildland fire season. These firefighters will work with our existing volunteers, and will help with availability during working hours when many volunteers are out of district. The district has two captains and many qualified volunteers who will continue to respond to calls. 

In the medium term, the district is exploring options including talking to neighboring districts to see whether we might contract some administrative services to help with our paperwork needs. Several volunteers have expressed a desire to have a local operational chief. We are discussing hiring someone new, and working to define our needs and determine the best option for Mosier and for a potential fire chief before posting a job description.

In addition, Mosier Fire has several needs for volunteers to help with paperwork tasks. The board needs someone to be a board recorder who will notice meetings and prepare minutes. Given that we won’t have a chief in the short term, we could use help with other office tasks. It might also be helpful if anyone had a place for one or both of our firefighters to stay this summer. 

As always, if you need help right away or have a fire to report, call 911. If you have a non urgent question, you can call the business line 541-478-3333 and someone will get back to you.

Mosier Community School News

Open Positions and Programs at MCS

Have you ever thought about working at our school? We need PT and FT teaching assistants, a PT cook, a K-3 Literacy teacher, and a 5th grade teacher. Please visit our website for more information about each position. Click on the Employment tab in the upper right corner on our home page and that will take you directly to the job description link. You can also email me at carterj@nwasco.k12.or.us for more information. All positions are open until filled. Below is an excerpt from our vacancy notices:

About Mosier Community School

Mosier Community School (MCS) is a K-8 Public Charter School in Mosier, Oregon. We focus on academic achievement, the arts, project-based units, and multiage education. We believe in educating the whole child, building strong relationships and instilling the passion for learning. Please visit www.mosier.k12.or.us to learn more about our school.

Would anyone like to come in to teach any form of music to elementary students from 12:30-2:00 pm., Monday-Friday or just two or three days a week. This is a paid position. No qualifications needed. Music can be singing, rhythm, instruments or any other musical skill you may have.

Our MCS 4 year old Explorer program has just one spot left. This program runs four school days a week. Tuition is $350 per month and we have a few free and reduced places available. Please email me at carterj@nwasco.k12.or.us for more information.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer!

One Hundred Years Ago in Mosier

Glimpses of History from Historic Newspapers
Compiled by Doris Lewis Smith

Hood River Glacier

July 6, 1922

A collision between automobiles driven by J. M. Mosier, of Mosier, and Earl Gregg, of Kent, and subsequent belligerency of the latter when Mr. Mosier pressed his claim for damages, attracted attention on the Columbia River Highway just east of Hood River on Wednesday of last week.  Both men were accompanied by their wives.  Spectators reported that the Mosier car had left the pavement on the proper side of the road in order to avoid the crash, which left both cars badly smashed, although no passenger suffered a scratch.  State Traffic Officer Salzman, who reached the scene of the crash a few minutes after its occurrence, is reported to have threatened to arrest Mr. Gregg because of his expressed desire to settle the claim for damages with a fight.  The automobiles were brought to Hood River.  Mr. Mosier has filed suit for $300 damages.

Judge Wilson on Monday denied a motion for change of venue to J. LeRoy Smith, Portland attorney representing R. D. Crowe, owner of 100 acres of land at the Rowena Loops of the Columbia River Highway, which Wasco County is seeking to obtain for park purposes.  Mark A. Mayer, of Mosier, has offered to purchase the loop property and present it to the state.

July 13, 1922

While the spring season was extremely late, R. D. Chatfield, manager of the Mosier Fruit Growers’ Association, says he anticipates the warm summer and fine growing season will result in a harvest at the normal time.  Mr. Chatfield says, “Our apple tonnage should run about two-thirds of last season, or around 200 (box)cars.  Our Newtons will be light, but our Spitzenburgs are heavy.  We will have a few cars of Delicious, Ortley and Arkansas Blacks.  We are now winding up our cherry season with about 100 tons, as against 75 tons last year.  Royal Anns are going to the cannery, while the blacks are being shipped east.  Pears here bloomed heavily but did not set well.  We will not have in excess of 5,000 boxes in the district, nearly all Anjous and Boscs.  Italian prunes promise about 15 cars, which will be shipped packed in 17-pound ‘suitcases.’”

Mosier is one district in the Northwest where every grower is a member of the Association.  The orchardists of this section are looking forward to the visitors who will come here from the Seattle convention (of the International Apple Shippers’ Association the latter part of the month.)  The delegates will be given an automobile ride from Hood River to The Dalles.  They will stop at the Mosier Association’s large packing house and storage plant and will be taken on a tour of the growing sections.

Plans call for a stop at the home of Mark A. Mayer, whose Mosier orchard home is declared to be one of the finest country places in Oregon.  Mr. Mayer, known throughout the Northwest for his interest in the apple game and as a good roads philanthropist, is personally acquainted with many eastern buying concerns, representatives from which he will entertain at his home.

July 20, 1922

The Mosier Post, American Legion, has leased the lower floor of the Sturgess building, now owned by E. M. Strauss and will establish club rooms there.  Donations of tables or chairs or any other furniture will be gratefully received by the organization.

The baseball game between Mosier and Corbett on Sunday resulted in another victory for the local team.  Possibly two more games will be played by the team this season, one of which will be played away from home.   On Sunday, July 23, a team composed of married men will clash with the fast bachelor organization.  The game promises to be the best exhibition in every respect played this year.  James F. Carroll will pilot the married men, and Clyde Root will try to keep the benedicts from running up the score too high.

Fire of unknown origin threatened to destroy the Mosier Hotel on Monday morning.  C. C. Brooks discovered smoke pouring from the building near the roof and gave the alarm.   Nearby residents were able to overcome the blaze within a short time.  The loss was covered by insurance.

The following party left Mayerdale at sunup on Sunday for Diamond Lake, where they will spend the week fishing:  Mark A. Mayer, Joe Weller, Forrest Evans and J. R. Wilcox, of Mosier, and Ralph and Sherman Gruman and Jack Crane, of Portland.  The men expected to reach Crescent Sunday night.  They traveled in two automobiles.

July 27, 1922

Mark A. Mayer and party returned on Sunday from Diamond Lake and reported the fishing was good.  J. R. Wilcox caught the largest rainbow, which weighed 11 pounds.  Very few campers were seen in the vicinity of the lake.  Mr. Mayer cautions all prospective fishermen in making the trip to go well supplied with blankets, as the nights are extremely cold.

Mosier Post American Legion will dispense a drink of Hage’s cider to all Legion members driving through Mosier en route to the state convention to be held at The Dalles this week.  Geo. M. Alexander will represent the Mosier post at the convention.

A ball game played between the married men and bachelors last Sunday resulted in a victory for the married men.  The losing team expects to challenge for a return game.  The Legion received $13.10, proceeds from the game.

Mosier Valley Rain Statistics

from Mike Igo

Runcible Cider Season Openings

12-5pm, the second Saturday each month through November

Saturday, July 16, noon to 5
Cherry Day! We'll be bringing out our popular seasonal, Summer Cherry with Mint, and selling cherries from neighboring orchards.

Saturday, August 13, noon to 5
This one is Peach Day! We can all welcome the start of Peach Twang season, and we'll also have fresh peaches available!

Saturday, September 17, noon to 5
Cheese Day up here, with some outstanding pairings with our ciders. The partnership of apples and cheese—now with cider!

Saturday, October 15, noon to 5
Pears step up for this Saturday event. We'll be releasing Toasty Pear, a fall favorite that has been offline for a few years.

Saturday, November 12, noon to 5
Our Holiday Sale Fest returns, with Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Cider Donuts! The perfect opportunity to round up cider for Thanksgiving and beyond.