New West Network

My Page: Tomi Owens

Middle Eastern Medley

Each Wednesday evening between April 11 and May 2, 2007 Columbia Gorge Community College and Gorge Literacy present an informal Writer-to-Writer or Artist-to-Artist Chat that will precede a public reading or visual presentation and discussion. The events are split evenly between The Dalles and Hood River, Oregon. Hood River events (April 11 and 25) will be held at the Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Street. In The Dalles, presentations will be held at The Mint – Erin Glenn Winery, 710 E. Second Street (April 18 and May 2.)

Conflict, Crisis, Chaos—these words are tossed around casually by the media when referring to the Middle East and it is all too easy to dismiss the region (and the people) as something of a lost cause. This, however, would be a grave mistake. Our nation’s future is intricately linked to the ultimate fate of that dynamic, culturally diverse land and the more we know about it the better prepared we will be for any eventuality. Even for peace.

Columbia Gorge Community College and Gorge Literacy organized this year’s Series as an opportunity for Gorge Residents to participate in an exploration and open forum discussion of Middle Eastern culture, society and politics. The four featured speakers all have visceral ties to that region and each will bring a unique perspective and cultural context to the table. [more]

Radioactive Hot Potato

Oregonian's only chance to speak their mind about the United States Department of Energy’s latest attempt to truck massive quantities of high-level nuclear waste through the Portland and the Columbia Gorge to Hanford Nuclear Reservation is tonight at the Best Western Hood River inn (ll08 East Marina Way; Hood River from 6-9:30pm.)

Discussion will revolve around the Bush Administration’s Global Nuclear Energy Partnership's (GNEP) plan to solve "the problem" of spent nuclear waste by shipping it to one or two sites in the country for storage and “reprocessing.”

Heart of American Northwestand Columbia Riverkeeper vehemently oppose both the transportation of extremely hot Cesium and Strontium through the region as well as the storage at Hanford, already notorious for leaking millions of gallons of deadly waste.

Public comment at tonight's "Scoping" will determine what issues agencies will address in the environmental impact statement. Concerns about safety and driving conditions on proposed trucking routes, the storage facilities' proximity to the Columbia River, and the effectiveness of the reprocessing procedure are just some of issues to be addressed by the EIS. [more]

On Stage Events

Ten years ago I spent a romantic week in London with my soon-to-be husband. We walked along the Thames holding hands, strolled arm in arm through the grounds of Windsor Castle, snuggled together in a cozy horse-drawn carriage. But of all my fond memories the most vivid is of us laughing hysterically (to the point of tears and quite nearly wet britches) in an East End production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. I can’t wait to relive the experience! And now Hood River even has the Horse and Hound (a proper English Pub) to get a stout pint and decent basket of fish and chips! Long Live the Bard!

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) is coming to Hood River for 2 weeks in March. Bag&Baggage Productions, a Portland-based theatre company, will remount its wildly successful 2005 tour of the production for eight shows in the beautiful Columbia Center for the Arts in downtown Hood River. This record breaking hit is an irreverent, fast-paced romp through all 37 of the Bard’s plays in 97 minutes and was called “the funniest show you are likely to see your entire life,” [more]

Book Talk & Slides (as in pictures)

We have more than our fair share of famous adventure sports enthusiasts in Hood River. Now you can add yet another name to the list: John Harlin III. Harlin is a second generation mountaineer whose book “The Eiger Obsession: Facing the Mountian that Killed My Father” has earned major media attention . Here’s just a taste of the press:

“John Harlin III was nine years old when his father made another attempt on a direct ascent of the notorious Eiger. Harlin had put together a terrific team, and, despite unending storms, he was poised for the summit dash. It was the moment he had long waited for. When Harlin's rope broke, 2,000 feet from the summit, he plummeted 4,000 feet to his death. In the shadow of tragedy, young John Harlin III came of age possessed with the very same passion for risk that drove his father.”

Harlin will speak and show slides of his trek on Sunday, March 11th at 4pm, at the Columbia Center for the Arts. Donations accepted at the door Book-signing in the Lobby following the lecture. [more]

Acoustics in the Gorge

Music lovers are spoiled for choice this week in the Gorge. First in an acoustic concert series, the Wasco Brothers and Terry Robb play Thursday night at the Dalles Civic Auditorium. Friday night take your pick between Nashville star Craig Carothers at the CCA or live Celtic music and dance at the White Salmon Library. Details below… [more]

School Delayed...Again!

The alarm rings at 6am every weekday morning. (Not because I need to get out of bed because, heck, I’m a writer, and pajamas ‘til noon are par for the course.) The alarm goes off at six so I can get the kiddies up, lunches packed, breakfast scrambled and boot the little darlings out the door to school.

And every winter morning before actually waking the kids, I take a precautionary peek out the window to check for snow, ice or frost. The slightest hint, and I mean the slightest hint of any chill weather and I immediately call the “Snow Phone” to make sure Hood River County schools are running on time. Or even running at all.

Today when I looked out at the brightening dawn there were clear skies and a little residual moisture clinging to the sidewalk and street. However, as I woke my eldest son, he pulled the covers over his head and said he had dreamed there was a snow delay today. Now, all ten year old boys dream about snow days, but I humored him and we sat on the edge of his bed and dialed the Snow Phone together.
[more]

Hey, we got elk!

You don’t have to listen to the “Voice of the Rocky Mountains” for long before realizing that Elk are a big deal. (And wolves—but lets not get started) Well, the Northwest isn’t all latte and yoga studios. We have wildlife, too, and our wildlife restoration programs are gaining national attention (or Rocky Mountain attention. Same difference right?) But don’t take my word for it! I’m late for a date with a double-shot mocha! Here is the official press release from The Boys in Beige:

Vancouver, WA—Employees of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, along with a number of community partners, received national recognition from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation with the 2006 “Elk Country Achievement Award for Wildlife Habitat Improvement.” Bronze elk statuettes will be on display at... [more]

not for the kiddies

What I see people looking for today in theatre or other entertainment is some kind of confirmation of their lives… a simple appetite for something that gives them insight into life.”
--Maria Irene Fornes

CAST will present Mud by Maria Irene Fornes at the Columbia Center for the Arts on three weekends in February, 2007. With this play, the award-winning Cuban-American Fornes has written an uncompromising and emotionally truthful piece about the struggle to be free and the quest for some greater understanding of one’s life. Suggestive of the works of Samuel Beckett and John Steinbeck, this terse, lyrical play is both thought-provoking and emotionally evocative. It raises questions about human nature, the biologic, socio-economic and emotional forces that tether us to this world, and the powerful life forces that motivate us. [more]

Ski ski ski ski ski

An ode to football. Photos courtesy of Tim Wilson
Last year's Super Bowl was watched by 141.4 million viewers. Super Bowl Monday, a grass-roots political campaign, is urging voters to write congress to make Super Bowl Sunday a new National Holiday, with “observation on Monday following the big game.” A day of rest and remembrance for the American sport finale which “has gained a significance that transcends the game itself.”

I love football for the skiing. I have made a point of getting up to the mountain every Sunday for the last month. And have not been disappointed. Virtually empty parking lots, no lift lines to speak of, wide open groomers and the fresh powder stashes if you know where to look. According to Jeremy Riss, Mt. Hood Meadows Ski and Snowboard School Manager: “attendance is always low during the playoffs and of those that show up about half quit early to a watch the game in the bar.” [more]

from here to there

Internationally acclaimed author to speak in the Gorge

Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, recently named one of the top Asian books of 2006 by Time Magazine, will talk about his work and show images of his adventures.

In 1993 Mortenson was descending from an attempt on the peak of K2. Exhausted and disoriented, he wandered away from his group into the most desolate reaches of northern Pakistan. Alone, without food, water, or shelter he eventually stumbled into an impoverished Pakistani village where he was nursed back to health.

While recovering he observed the village’s 84 children sitting outdoors, scratching their lessons in the dirt with sticks. The village was so poor that it could not afford the $1-a-day salary to hire a teacher. When he left the village, he promised that he would return to build them a school... [more]