Winter 2016-17
We all know the Gorge is a great place to live. We’ve got it all: outdoor recreation, beautiful surroundings, quaint small towns, a fabulous food and beverage scene. But, as my kids would say, these things speak to wants. What I’ve learned over the past several years, however, exploring our communities for stories to tell in these pages, is that there are a lot of people and organizations working to make sure the needs of community members are met. Just a small sampling of some that have appeared in the magazine include the FISH Food Bank, which expanded into a brand new building two years ago in order to serve more people; One Community Health, which last year marked 30 years of providing health care to the underserved; Gorge Grown Food Network, which works to create a local, sustainable food system for all; and The Next Door, whose myriad programs provide outreach and support to individuals, children and families throughout the Gorge.
There are also countless individuals — working or volunteering with these entities and others — who spend their days helping to lift up those less fortunate. The collective effort of many of these individuals and organizations was recognized recently by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which bestowed on the Columbia Gorge Region its prestigious Culture of Health Prize for the many efforts being undertaken to improve the health of all residents (page 40). Paul Lindberg, a collective impact specialist who has helped create collaborations and obtain funding for many of the initiatives underway, points out that the prize is a great honor, but there’s much more work to do. For at the end of the day, it’s the community that ensures people’s most basic needs are met that makes for a truly great place to live.
We’ve dubbed this our Health & Wellness Issue for the many stories related to the topic, including a profile of beloved White Salmon yoga teacher Kathy Kacena (page 12); a story on Merriann Bell and her organic plant nursery (page 18); and a piece on the benefits of juicing in winter (page 64). We also invite you to peruse our special advertising section, which highlights some of the healthcare professionals in our community (page 52).
Of course, there are plenty of winter-themed stories as well, including one about Nesika Lodge (page 26), and another on Teacup Lake Nordic Area (page 14). There’s also a story about former Olympic skiers and snowboarders who are now raising their own kids on the local slopes (page 56). Here’s to good health and happy trails this winter. Cheers!
—Janet Cook, Editor
