Finally! Get Your HR Bridge "BreezeBy" Transponder

Bye, bye to HR Bridge tickets!

It's a good idea to subscribe to their email list. You'll get up-to-date news on all closures, etc. In case you are not on the Port of Hood River email list, here is the email they are sending subscribers:
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Apply Now--Set up your personal "BreezeBy"

ELECTRONIC LANES BreezeBy, the Port of Hood River's new electronic tolling system is almost ready to go! If all goes well, testing will end around the first part of November and all commuters will have the opportunity to BreezeBy the toll plaza in the OUTSIDE bypass lanes.

The Application, Credit Card Authorization Form, Terms & Conditions, and Privacy Policy are available on the Port's website, along with "Frequently Asked Questions": http://www.portofhoodriver.com/ETC/ETC%20INFORMATION.htm

Just open the forms, print them out, complete either the personal account or the commercial account (if you own a business) and submit them to the Port office. You can send them via U.S. mail, fax, scanned image through email, or walk them in (M-F / 8-5). Get your account setup and be ready to go. Once BreezeBy is operational for everyone, only vehicles with BreezeBy transponders may use the bypass lanes. Transponders are good in ALL lanes, however, so you may choose the shortest line when you arrive at the toll plaza.

If you are currently using tickets, you may continue to use them (they do NOT expire) but you must drive through the center toll plaza lanes only. If you would like to turn in any unused tickets to the office, the value of the remaining ticket book will be placed into your BreezeBy account. There is a 20% unlimited discount for all transponder users, for both personal and commercial accounts.

We look forward to having you become new users of the BreezeBy system soon! This will facilitate your travel through the toll plaza. As always, we welcome your questions, comments and feedback on this process.

Submit your application now so that your account will be ready to go when the system goes live!

MAIL:
Port of Hood River
PO Box 239
Hood River OR 97031

Physical address:
1000 E Port Marina Drive
FAX: 541.386.1395
EMAIL: porthr@gorge.net

To unsubscribe from the Bridge Closure Update List, send a message to bridgeupdate-request@portofhoodriver.com in plain text format with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the BODY of the message.

To email comments or information to the Port of Hood River, please use: porthr@gorge.net. Office hours for the Port of Hood River are Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 5 pm. Telephone: (541)386-1645

Port of Hood Riverhttp://www.portofhoodriver.com/

Underwood Fire: Brooks Family Fund Raiser

Online Fox 12 Article: http://www.kptv.com/news/14205420/detail.html
Video from Fox 12: http://www.kptv.com/video/14179090/index.html

POSTED: 7:04 pm PDT September 25, 2007UPDATED: 7:20 pm PDT September 25, 2007

Fund Set For Family Who Lost Home In Gorge Fire

20-year Underwood residents had no insurance

"WHITE SALMON, Wash. -- A fund has been up set up at Wells Fargo banks for a family who lost everything in a Columbia River Gorge wildfire.

The home of Dale Brooks and his family was one of six homes that were destroyed by the Broughton Fire last week.

Brooks said his family and pets narrowly escaped the fire, but all of their belongings, including two cars and a truck, were destroyed.

There is still no word on what caused the fire.

The Brooks family lived on the 20-acre property for the past 20 years, but didn't have insurance.

A fund has been set up to help the Brooks family get back on their feet, according to Brooks' employer. You can contribute to the fund at any Wells Fargo Bank."

(I think there's a Wells Fargo Branch in Rosaurers)

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From The Hood River News
Link to Article: http://www.hoodrivernews.com/News%20stories/77_news_1.htm

Fund will aid displaced family
September 27, 2007

"A fund has been set up to help the Brooks family, whose home was destroyed during the Broughton Fire.

Dale Brooks Sr. works for Walsh Trucking Company in Troutdale. The company has established the Brooks Family Fund at Wells Fargo Bank to help the family rebuild their lives.

The family escaped with their two dogs and a few pictures but lost everything else, including clothing."

Kudos to White Salmon Thriftway!

Save a nickle and get much more!

For the last month or so, our local Thriftway has been selling reusable shopping bags (totes) for just $.99 each! They are black, good quality and good looking. Bring your own bag for grocery shopping and Thriftway still deducts $.05 for each bag at checkout. I say "still", because Thriftway has been giving a bag deduction for several years. Since they carry these good looking, affordable totes, there's no reason not to bring a bag each time you shop!

Since my husband and I have used our own shopping bags for well over twenty years, we've known that most supermarkets and large grocery chains deduct $.03 to $.05 for each personal bag used at checkout. It doesn't sound like much, but all those nickels add up to real savings.

So far this year, in the US alone, approximately 590,000,000,000 (and rising) plastic bags have been used. This number (for just 9-months) represents a lot of oil, energy, transportation and disposal costs. Oh, so you say you use all your plastic bags for trash? Then maybe you produce more at home then you consume. Uh, so you use then all for kitty litter disposal? You may use some plastic bags, but if you fill then a bit higher you'll use less, and if you use other types of plastic bags (veggie or bread wrappers) you'll need fewer still.

Next time you're in Thriftway, buy a few of those $.99 cent totes and simplify your life, save a few cents and reduce your personal energy consumption.

Rural Initiatives Conference, Oct 25 to 27

Rural Initiatives conference scheduled for Skamania

From Hood River News
September 6, 2007

"Rural Development Initiatives Inc. opens registration for its fifth annual conference, “Regards to Rural V,” a gathering to “inform, inspire and celebrate ... all that is rural,” according to an RDI press release."

October 25 -- 27

http://www.hoodrivernews.com/News%20stories/71_news_05.htm

This looks like it might be an interesting and timely conference for our rural neighbors. Read the entire article by clicking the above link.

Anyone want to rate or expound on last year's conference?

Wind Farms Moving Closer: Remember the Energy Overlay Zone?

Lumber company will apply to build Skamania wind farm

The ColumbianWednesday, September 05, 2007
BY KATHIE DURBIN, Columbian staff writer

"SDS Lumber Co. plans to apply for a permit before year's end to build a wind farm in Skamania County that would produce up to 70 megawatts of power."

http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/09052007news192087.cfm

White Salmon Enterprise, Sept 6th

SDS and Broughton planning wind project near Willard


Does anyone know what this might mean for Klickitat and those energy overlay zones the County Commissioners created?

The Columbia Gorge Future Forum: What's it about?

Forum will seek a vision for gorge

Wednesday, September 05, 2007
BY KATHIE DURBIN, Columbian staff writer

"With proposals for a destination resort on its Washington side, a tribal casino across the river in Oregon and towering wind turbines on its borders, the future of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is fraught with uncertainty 21 years after its creation by Congress."

http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/09052007news192086.cfm

The forum will be held at the Discovery Center, in The Dalles, Oct 29th.

Register for Gorge Forum
To register for the Columbia Gorge Future Forum, contact Jessica Metta at 509-493-3323, ext 228.

WS River, SDS, Klickitat Rezone in The Columbian

In case you don't read The Columbian, here's a recent article about the Klickitat rezone, SDS, the Forest Service, the WS River, et al!

Aptly titled:

River Ruckus

Monday, August 27, 2007
BY KATHIE DURBIN, Columbian staff writer

http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/08272007news189373.cfm

Environmentalists, developer dislike proposed gorge amendment

The Associated Press Sep 4, 2007
VANCOUVER, Wash. — A proposed change in the Columbia River gorge management plan to allow construction of a destination resort at the site of an old timber mill has upset both environmentalists and the developer. http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/207458.html

Proposed restrictions anger resort planners

From The Columbian, Mon. Sept 03, 2007 BY KATHIE DURBIN, Columbian staff writer
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/09032007news191812.cfm

Cleaning out your garage? Closet? Check Gorge FreeCycle!

There is a local FreeCycle Yahoo! group you might want to check out.

It's a terrific place to list your items that aren't usable by charities or suitable for garage sales that someone might want--keeping it from the landfill! You can also ask for items (never hurts to ask).

A lot of WS residents participate in the Gorge FreeCycle Yahoo! group. Check it out and bookmark the spot. Ya never know...

Gorge FreeCycle

ShadowGirl

Posting removed... map of properties

The map and textual content for this post has been removed by the editor due to the request of a commentor who contends that it is unfair to post maps showing property owned by city or county officials. I have retained the comments, however.

Upcoming Columbia River Gorge Commission Committee Meetings

Upcoming Columbia River Gorge Commission Committee Meetings:

Rules Committee ---September 5, 2007 at 1:00-2:00 pm
Gorge Commission Office
#1 Town & Country Square
White Salmon, WA

The Rules Committee will be discussing 2007 legislation concerning open meetings, public records, conflicts of interst, financial disclosure, and administrative procedure.
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Executive Committee --- September 5, 2007 at 2:00-3:30 pm
Gorge Commission Office
#1 Town & Country Square
White Salmon, WA

The Executive Committee will be discussing the workplan, annual reviewprocess for the executive Director, and budget review for 2009-2011.
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Assessment Committee --- September 6, 2007 at 1:30-3:30 pm
Gorge Commission Office
#1 Town & Country Square
White Salmon, WA

The Assessment Committee will be discussing updates on progress and decision points for the indicators project.

Submitted by anonymous

Hello White Salmon Blog

I am one of the new editors --GorgeGirl-- along with ShadowGirl.

I am a long time resident of White Salmon and care deeply for this place. I would say I am for only well thought out planned development of our area.

I know we all have slightly different philosophies. The important thing is that we agree to disagree, respect each other's opinion and are willing to make compromises for the betterment of the community. Stay tuned. And please remember to send NEW TOPICS FOR POSTS to WhiteSalmon2007@yahoo.com! We are very open to new ideas and info to distribute.

Important Gorge Commission Meeting Sept 11

I encourage everyone to attend!

September 11, 2007

Columbia River Gorge Commission
Hood River County Administration Building
601 State Street
Hood River, Oregon

You can find the complete meeting agenda at the link below.

http://www.gorgecommission.org/meetings.cfm