
Commuter Van option rolling into Gorge; Ensure employees make it to the job
Commute Options of Bend, Ore., rolls out Vanpool program in Hood River County, providing a low-cost opportunity for employers to ensure employees have a dependable ride back and forth to the job. Cost can be as low as $100 per employee per month with the right recipe. Check out the details here.

Meet David Hutchinson: Freebridge Chef Flexing Culinary Skills, Creativity in TD
“I love my coworkers and the flexibility and freedom that Freedbridge allows,” said Chef David Hutchinson. “The kitchen staff and I are encouraged to be as imaginative as we want to be. It's an inspiring atmosphere that breathes artistic creativity.” Italian Supper Club coming on Jan. 9th. Fun dishes and specialty cocktails - daily.

Tri-County Hazardous Waste & Recycling Program to Hold Public Meeting on Dec. 13th
The Steering Committee of the Tri-County (Hood River, Sherman, and Wasco) Hazardous Waste & Recycling Program will hold a meeting on December 13th, from 9 AM to 11 AM. The meeting can also be accessed virtually upon request.

Freebridge brings new series of dining experiences to The Dalles
Freebridge Brewing is introducing a new way to dine in The Dalles, Oregon. All new “Supper Club Dinner Experiences” are being offered by advanced reservation. With different themes attached to the dinners, guests can experience delicious food curated and prepared by Chef David Hutchinson.

Scruggs joins Northern Wasco County People’s Utility District
Prior to joining PPC, Scruggs was in private practice with large firms in Portland representing business clients in commercial litigation. As Chief Legal Officer, Scruggs will support the NWCPUD’s evaluation of future power supply agreements, enterprise risk management and corporate governance.

Hazardous Waste Collection events set for HR and TD in November
The Tri-County Hazardous Waste & Recycling Program is holding hazardous waste collection events at Hood River Garbage and The Dalles Disposal on November 17th and 18th from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Accepted materials at these events are products that are labeled “caution”, “warning”, “danger”, or “poison”, septic field/drain cleaners, oven cleaners, gasoline, kerosene, and other fuels, automotive fluids, pool and spa chemicals, fluorescent lights, thermostats and thermometers, art and hobby chemicals, and much more.

New Cash Incentives for Homeowners to Add Solar Battery Storage announced
Homeowners can now receive incentives up to $3,000 for battery storage or up to $10,000 if they meet income guidelines for Energy Trust’s Solar Within Reach program. Learn more here about this latest incentive.

STRAIGHT TALK FROM KPUD, part 8 in a series
We have had many people say they are hearing that their bills will go up as a result of the AMI meter installations. This is not correct. There will be no change to our rates or the amount you will be billed when these meters are installed. There may be impacts to your bill when we change rate design in a year or two, but that will be a separate public process we will carry out at that time.

STRAIGHT TALK FROM KPUD, part 7 in a series
Are AMI meters safe? The meters we are using, manufactured by Landis and Gyr, are UL tested and are certified to the 2735 standard for electric utility meters. At a distance of 3 feet in front of the meter, the emissions from the AMI meters were less than 0.2% of these standards for 900 MHz radio emissions.

STRAIGHT TALK FROM KPUD, part 6 in a series
Knowing when your electricity use is highest will let you assess what's going on within your home to drive the usage up. KPUD knowledge about your usage stops at the meter, so it is up to customers to identify what is driving usage, so they can schedule those activities to take advantage of lower power costs.

Family, furniture and hard work: The legacy of the Wilbur Murray family lives on at Murray's Furniture and Ashley in Hood River
Christine Brandt is now part of the third generation of Murrays to own and operate furniture stores in Hood River - Murrays Furniture, 981 Tucker Road and Ashley Furniture, 1105 Tucker Road. It all began quite humbly with her grandfather Wilbur Murray with an auction yard at the corner of Forden Road and Belmont Drive in 1961.
Beautiful Office Space Available at 12th and Dry Hollow
Location, Location, Location - Office space at 12th and Dry Hollow is now available on this well-trafficked corner in east The Dalles. This business location self-markets as it is a hub for local health care providers and a nearby grocery store. A business here will surely gain some notice.

Rare Gems: 2-bedroom Apartments for Rent in TD; The View - Priceless
Two apartments are available for rent off Cherry Heights Road in The Dalles. And they are far from typical. There are two, 2- bedroom apartments at more than 500 square feet. Both offer spectacular views of The Dalles looking east. Spectacular. Hang a hammock and take it all in. Catch a sunrise or the sparkle of the city at night.

STRAIGHT TALK FROM KPUD, part 5 in a series
News from our Sponsors
STRAIGHT TALK FROM KPUD: This week, a closer look at a key part of that plan, AMI. That stands for Advanced Metering Infrastructure.

STRAIGHT TALK WITH KPUD, part 4 in a series
News from our Sponsors - Jim Smith and Rodger Nichols discuss the plan on how to combat increasing power prices and some new technology that will assist.

STRAIGHT TALK FROM KPUD, part 3 of a series
CETA is one of the strictest energy acts in the nation, requiring all electric utilities in the state to eliminate power purchased from coal-fired generation by 2025.

STRAIGHT TALK FROM KPUD; Part 2 of a series
Today, we want to give you a bigger view of the changes happening in our electric industry and what we are doing about it.

STRAIGHT TALK FROM KPUD
By banning any new natural gas plants and closing coal plants, the State’s Clean Energy Transformation Act reduces supply at the same time as demand is rising. As a result, today’s wholesale power market prices are more than double what they were two years ago. This has increased our power cost by $2.5 million and it’s going to take about a 9% increase in our retail electric rates to cover it.
18 Hazardous Waste collection events on tap in Wasco, HR & Sherman Counties
These events are open to households, small businesses and Agricultural Producers of Wasco, Hood River, and Sherman Counties. Pre-registration is required for households at the events in Hood River and The Dalles, but not required at rural events.

Tickets are going fast for “Little Shop of Horrors” at the Bingen Theater
The Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association is proud to present the musical sensation “Little Shop of Horrors,” directed by Joe Garoutte, with music direction by Dan Kenealy. Based on a cult sci-fi film from 1960, this “strange and unusual” musical is filled with fun and unforgettable tunes. It opens at the Bingen Theater (210 Oak St.) in Bingen, WA, on April 28.