The look back at the year 2008 continues on page A1 of this edition. And so does our list of gifts and best wishes for 2009 for people and groups in our midst.
    The start of the new year is the perfect time to express, in the present, specific hopes for friends and neighbors all around. Continuing, then, from Jan. 3 on this page, our list of symbolic gifts for 2009:

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n Regarding 13th and May streets, a roll of reflective tape — to the city, school district, and hospital, as they reflect on how best to work with ODOT to improve safety at the intersection.

n Sunglasses — to the Hood River Waterfront Park Committee as they look toward a bright future at this jewel on the Columbia.

n A shovel — to any Hood River County resident who chooses to plant trees this spring in accordance with the OSU Extension-sponsored Backyard Tree Program. There are incentives to avoiding pear, apple and other backyard trees that attract pests such as codling months that are harmful to commercial orchards. Planting trees and shrubs such as caneberries, strawberries and blueberries is a far better choice.

n A larger briefcase — to new Hood River City Council members John Herron (elected in November) and Dawna Armstrong (appointed in December) and Cascade Locks’ Kevin Benson, Tiffany Pruit and Lance Masters (elected in November). Last issue we congratulated the new mayors, Arthur Babitz in Hood River and Brad Lorang in Cascade Locks.

n A water bottle — aluminum or other non-leaching, to the Hood River Leos group, which as of Jan. 1 is collecting recyclable water containers (details on page B4). With the change in the law requiring a deposit on water bottles, it is encouraging to see a group of young people step forward this way.

n A bottle (recyclable) of bubbly — to our local residents in the Ford Foundation Institute program who put up the recycling bins downtown.

May the community, and our visitors, use them as intended (and our city crews be ready to empty them).

Helping with the project were the City of Hood River Urban Renewal District, Ford Family Foundation and Gorge Ecology Institute.

n Golden sneakers — to the many Gorge residents who will walk in the 2009 CROP Walk. The 2008 event raised a record $3,422 for the food bank and hunger relief around the world. Golden Sneakers is the name of the award to the church with the highest participation, and it went in 2008 to Bethel United Church of Christ in White Salmon.

CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) hunger walks are fund-raising events sponsored by Church World Services, an international relief, development refugees settlement agency.

n An engineer’s cap — to Mt. Hood Railroad, in its first year of new ownership under Permian of Illinois. May the rails run far smoother than they did in 2006-08.

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This year’s list is far from exhaustive. Throughout 2009 the Hood River News will continue highlighting the goals and accomplishments, along with the challenges and setbacks, facing Hood River County organizations, companies, and individuals.

In our print edition and on our Web site:

(www.hoodrivernews.com)

Among other things, look for news and features including a regular look at local people and companies making things and a new set of “52 Faces.”