Fall 2023
As we were putting together this issue, I was struck once again by how fortunate we are to have such a talented crew of writers telling stories about the Gorge for the magazine. As usual, most of the pieces in this issue were written by our regular contributors — many of whom have been writing for us for years. In flipping back through the issues in our archives, I came across veteran writer Don Campbell’s first story for us in our very first issue, which was Spring 2012. Ditto for Ruth Berkowitz. Kacie McMackin has been sharing her culinary creations with us in the magazine’s Partake section since our second issue in the summer of 2012. She also occasionally writes (and photographs) other stories.
David Hanson, a long-time writer and editor in his own right, is also an award-winning filmmaker and photographer who usually both writes and photographs his stories. Check out his website for a look at some of his intriguing and diverse work. Cate Hotchkiss is another career writer who began dabbling in photography a few years back and has since won numerous awards for her stunning landscape images. Molly Allen, one of our newer writers, is constantly on the look-out for interesting stories and brings to the magazine the fresh perspective of a relative newcomer to the Gorge.
For a small-town magazine, we pack a punch when it comes to our contributors — both our writers and photographers. Kudos to them for their top-shelf work, for telling compelling stories about this place we all love, and for being all-around nice people to work with.
Speaking of compelling stories, David Hanson set out this summer to learn about the “plumbing” of the Gorge, exploring how that most vital resource, water, moves from high up on Mount Hood and Mount Adams to our faucets. You can go along for his journey beginning on page 30.
Cate Hotchkiss takes us inside The Foley, a historic grand house in The Dalles that was beautifully restored and turned into a co-working community and retail marketplace (page 44). The Colonial Revival-style mansion, built in 1906, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Cate details its past life, restoration and transformation into a community hub.
Other interesting stories in this issue include Don Campbell’s feature on Backwoods Brewing Company in Carson (page 24); Molly Allen’s piece on Grasslands Barbecue (page 20); and a story by Ruth Berkowitz beginning on page 38 about the flourishing trades programs at Columbia Gorge Community College. Happy reading!
— Janet Cook, Editor
