2004 Strengthening our Community Town Hall Forum in The Dalles
October 14th, 2004

from Scott McKay, The Dalles

Below is a list generated from a Town Hall Forum in October that the Strengthening Our Community group sponsored. The turnout wasn't large (around 30 people) but we had invited several members of the community to share with us the successes they have seen during this last year and it was quite inspiring.

Attendees included Scott Hege- Port, Tom Puskarich – D21, Dan Durow – City of The Dalles, Ruby Mason – Housing Authority, Deane Wolfe – St.Vincent DePaul, Trudy Townsend – Commission on Children and Families, Micki Ingebo – Community Action Program, Debi Jone – Parks and Recreation, Bob McFadden - Realtors.

This meeting focused on the positive accomplishments that have occurred over the last year that have helped make a healthier community. Most of the successes came from those invited presenters, but we all know there are so many more that have occurred in all the many corners of our community.

"Hopefully when people read this list they will think of all the other successes that they know about from their experiences," said Scott McKay. "As you can see from the list there are large scale successes such as Home Depot that everyone knows about and there are smaller scale successes that are less known, recycling program at Colonel Wright, but all of these accomplishments are significant. It talks all of us working individually and together doing both the big things and the little things, bringing jobs to The Dalles and talking with a young person we don’t know, which will continue to improve the health of our communities. And acknowledging that “we have done good” will help us to do more."

2004 STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY TOWN HALL FORUM
October 14th, 2004
List of Community Accomplishments and Successes for 2003 - 2004

1. Port property was designated a State Certified Site
2. Lot 28 Project at the Port was developed
3. Vacant Insofoam Building sold to a new business from out of town
4. New Office Building on Port Property built by local developers
5. Major renovation of The Dalles Marina including new guest moorage docks
6. Opening of The Home Depot
7. 6 0f the 10 miles of Riverfront Trail completed
8. Most of the remaining money needed to complete the Riverfront Trail has been raised
9. Raised $90,000 of local dollars to match a Ford Foundation Grant for the Riverfront Trail
10. Completed the Underpass to reconnect the city to the river
11. Completed the airport partnership with Klickitat County
12. Finished the planning documents for the airport
13. Reestablished the water rights for the airport
14. Received federal funding for instrument landing at the airport
15. Completed most of the Q-Life fiber optic loop
16. 1 year anniversary of St. Vincent DePaul's South Wasco County Food Distribution Center (averages 40 food boxes a month)
17. St. Vincent DePaul (SVDP) reinstituted home visits to provide better support to those in need
18. SVDP opened a shopping pantry to better distribute foods to those in need
19. SVDP adopted the "Giving Tree" program during the Christmas season
20. SVDP continued the "Back to School" partnership with Salvation Army to provide school supplies to over 340 children
21. St. Vincent DePaul provided over $73,000 to 9000 individuals in need of assistance
22. Oregon is no longer #1 in National Hunger rate
23. St. Vincent DePaul partnered with CAP for rental assistance
24. Mid Columbia Community Action Program received state funding to buy and open a Food Distribution Warehouse in The Dalles
25. Mid -Columbia Housing Agency (MCHA) developed and opened "Casa Lomas" housing for farmworkers which just received 1 out of just 16 National Awards of Excellence
26. MCHA moved office space to the Commodore II supporting the renovation project that provides low income housing and retail space
27. Increased student involvement where young student at Colonel Wright on her own initiative circulated a petition to keep Colonel Wright open and presented it to the School Board. Colonel Wright is still open.
28. Wasco County Commission on Children and Families (WCCCF) created a single number to call for parental help staffed by a Americorp Volunteer
29. WCCCF offers "Incredible Years" program for younger parents
30. Center for Living received a grant to develop "System of Care" to provide services focusing on the family
31. Center for Living received a grant to provide additional mental health services for children
32. Center for Living received a grant to provide additional alcohol and drug services for youth
33. 50 families are participating in family support groups
34. Birthing classes are now provided in Spanish
35. A new bilingual principal at Dry Hollow
36. Housing sales are doing very well with more sales than 1999 and at an average higher price than 1999
37. A Latino Provider Network has been established and is meeting
38. Sister City program still strong with addition of Japanese Dance Troupe in the Cherry Festival
39. Reestablished Smoking Prevention Program through new grant
40. People from outside The Dalles are impressed with the Community Covenant
41. Established the "SMART" reading program at Chenowith Elementary School
42. Community mobilized to protest the adult book store
43. Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation (NWCPR) was able to continue offering after school programs through local support (Turn-It-Up 200)
44. NWCPR helped 200 families participate in activities
45. NWCPR provided 400 children with 8 weeks of childcare during the summer at a very modest cost
46. LaClinica expanded into The Dalles
47. New medical clinic "Columbia Hills Medical Clinic"
48. Continued progress in completing the South County Health Clinic
49. New landscaping for The Dalles Art Center
50. Downtown looking better with businesses improving their appearances
51. New pediatric doctors in The Dalles
52. Afterschool activities for middle school students at Wilson
53. Prevention Coalition sponsored forums on youth related topics, i.e. Marijuana use and Obesity
54. Historic The Dalles Days is growing
55. Veteran's Memorial at Sorosis Park is expanding
56. Car Seat Coalition distributed 500 car seats last year for free or at a reduced cost
57. OSU Extension's 4-H program received grants to hire a half time Hispanic Outreach person and also to hire a half time person to provide school enrichment activities in the schools
58. The first Home Buyers Fair occurred
59. Street improvements on Chenoweth Loop associated with the Home Depot development
60. MCMC's Great-n-Small child care center has expanded and is now available to the whole community
61. CGCC Nursing Program graduates are all employed, most in the Gorge
62. The Lewis and Clark Cargo Exhibit was funded and opened at the Discovery Center
63. Successful 150 year celebration of Wasco County
64. Additional classrooms added to Headstart
65. Transfer of the Animal Shelter to Home at Last providing better service and saving public dollars
66. One school district, North Wasco County School District 21, as of July 1, 2004 has increased the educational/activity opportunities for all of our students.
67. The two high schools have melted together without any issues to date. The students are conscious of each other's feelings and traditions and have increased their compromising skill level immensely.
68. Blending of the middle school staffs has increased their collective talent level which will increase the success level of the students.
69. Chenowith Elementary is the Oregon Small Site State Champion in the 2004 RIF Community Reading Challenge. RIF stands for Reading is Fundamental.
70. Three (3) nationally Certified Teachers on staff-Mary Beth Thouvenal (Professional/Technical), Penny Wallace (Art) and Jim Tindall (Library Media).
71. Three teachers have applied to participate in the certification program commencing this academic year.
72. The attendance for the first ever The Dalles-Wahtonka Union High School football game was the largest in the past 25 years.
73. An upgrade of the electrical system at The Dalles campus of The Dalles-Wahtonka Union High School.
74. Volunteer work of planting trees at both campuses of the high school.
75. Volunteer work of painting the administration and counseling offices of The Dalles campus of the high school.
76. A computer lab at The Dalles campus.
77. Volunteers cleaned and polished the copper murals above the entrance to The Dalles campus.
78. A new camera security system at The Dalles campus.
79. A Structured Learning Classroom at Chenowith Elementary.
80. State Athletic Championships:
Wahtonka Boys Cross Country
The Dalles Girls Cross Country-3A 6th Place
The Dalles Cheerleaders-3A Champions
The Dalles Girls Track and Field-3A Champions
81. The Dalles 7th Place in the Oregonian Cup 3A (combination of athletics, activities, academics, sportsmanship at state competitions).
82. Wahtonka held an outdoor graduation that included pyrotechnic display.
83. State assessment of students being done electronically at the middle school.
84. Small learning communities created for the 6th/7th grades.
85. The Dalles Middle School Destination Imagination team finished 3rd at State.
86. Middle School evening program to provide support for parents who want more information about children has increased in popularity and numbers.
87. The combining of the two high schools has increased the participation level in sports from the freshman class.
88. A federal grant was received to serve breakfast and lunch to students during the summer months. 6,540 meals were served during the 10 week period.
89. 540 breakfasts and 1,500 lunches are served daily during the school year.
90. Started a supper program for those students attending any after school enrichment program, including intramural sports, tutoring sessions, night school, etc.
91. Construction of a beautiful garden by staff and students at Dry Hollow.
92. Creation of an after school Chess Club with 34 students participating at Dry Hollow.
93. Organized elementary StRUT (Students Recycling used Technology) program at Dry Hollow.
94. All libraries are now accessible to students and staff, both at school and home over the internet.
95. Students grade 9-12 have the services of a full time licensed media specialist.
96. All students and staff have access at school and home for free services to the Oregon School Library Information System (OSLIS) and its Ebsco databases. Articles in these databases can be selected for reading level and may be translated into Spanish. These services are being made possible by the Oregon State Library and the Oregon Department of Education.
97. The older students are making comments to their bus drivers that they really like their classes and that they have more choices of classes.
98. The majority of parents appreciated the enormous tasks of transporting 1,200 students daily and have been patient during the transitional process.
99. Colonel Wright Elementary School began recycling and composting materials school wide.
100.Use of the Effective Behavior Support model by the Colonel Wright staff has reduced the number of discipline referrals school wide.
101. Chess Club beginning on the Wahtonka campus.

Send more accomplishments and successes from this last year or any clarifications or corrections to; Scott McKay at smckay2001@charter.net

Comments expressed during forum:

"We are a community that has very strong partnerships and we will continue to strengthen those partnerships."

"We all live in the same house and we need to be concerned about who lives upstairs as well as who lives downstairs."

"Working to create a community where we can work together, play together and realize our dreams together."

"We must be willing to invest in the future of our community."

Future Directions:

• Continued growth of CGCC
• Pursue the goal of every child having access to free recreational activities
• Pursue more Spanish language sign, etc.
  
  

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