Meet the Livable Hood River Board
Jon Gehrig
Pays the bills as: Cartographer and Analyst for a company that develops senior housing
In a previous life: Barista, bartender, graduate student and adjunct instructor of geography at Portland Community College
Hidden talent: The uncanny ability to sniff out al pastor tacos wherever I am
Happy place: The mountains
Listening to: The radio, especially KEXP Seattle, KMHD Gresham and KBOO Saturday morning bluegrass
Reading: Coming into the Country, because John McPhee is pretty much the best author ever
Best app on my phone: The NYT app (because real journalism!) and Gaia GPS (because I’m a map nerd)
Few people know that: I once had ten fingers? Also, I spent two months studying llama herders in the Bolivian Andes
Mankind’s best invention: Definitely not the table saw
You can tell I’m an Oregonian because: I don’t own an umbrella and I’m not afraid to backpack in the rain
Fell for Hood River when: My parents brought me into the world here
Why Livable Hood River? Because the only thing that I love more than this place are the people who are in it, and they need a voice.
Kate Hoffman
Pays the bills as: Freelance Graphic Designer and Legal Assistant
In a previous life: I was probably burned at the stake for some reason
Hidden talent: Juggling oranges
Spirit animal: David Lee Roth
Mankind’s best invention: The mute button
Quiz show category I could crush: Cheese
You can tell I’m an Oregonian because...
"the benefits of fermented foods" is a frequent topic of conversation in my day-to-day life
Find me... at Orchard Lanes bowling
Why Livable Hood River? Because your community is only as strong as the family that has the least. I've seen what happens when you ignore planning; when you pretend your town won't get any bigger; when you refuse to give marginalized members of the town a seat at the table; and when employees, blue-collar working families, farmers, low-income earners, minorities and the elderly are pushed out of their homes because of unaffordable housing costs. When those things happen, vibrant communities and cities eventually shrivel up and die. I want to work with caring, intelligent and responsible residents to help change the potential outcome.
Arthur Babitz
Pays the bills as: Engineer/Inventor
Hidden talent: Juggling
Happy place: Riding my bike
Reading: Biography of Leonardo Da Vinci
Favorite cartoon character: Tie between Rocky the Flying Squirrel and Underdog
Mankind’s best invention: Soup
Find me: At HistoricHoodRiver.com
Why Livable Hood River? I’d rather work to keep my hometown livable then find a new hometown once we ruin this one.
tina lassen
Pays the bills as: Freelance Writer
In a previous life: Corporate communications—business suits, pantyhose, the whole shebang
Best app on my phone: Google Translate, pure magic
Happy place: Wildflower meadows and international departure gates
Find me: Hiking where you can’t find me
Listening to: Podcasts—Threshold, The Wild, Outside/In, and nerdy urban planning ones
Mankind’s best invention: The dishwasher
Favorite cartoon character: Smokey Bear. Not technically a cartoon, but I can’t resist a bear in blue jeans who cares about the forest
Fell for Hood River: The first time I saw an entire hillside of balsamroot in bloom
You can tell I’m an Oregonian because: Even my dress clothes are waterproof and breathable
Why Livable Hood River? Because I want Hood River to remain a real town filled with character and characters.
joe sheahan
Pays the bills as: Hood River’s most knowledgeable and friendly server and bartender
In a previous life: I was gonna be an accountant!
Hidden talent: It’s not that hidden, but I am a pretty good home cook
Mankind’s best invention: Cast-iron skillet
Happy place: My canoe on a lake
Listening to: Too many podcasts and bluegrass
Reading: Phillip Pullman, Timothy Egan and Batman vs Spawn
Best app on my phone: Bandsintown
Favorite cartoon character: Yakko, Wakko or Dot and also He-Man
Quiz show category I could crush: Late '80s sitcoms or brewing/beer
Find me: On the mountain or in a lake, but most likely at a place that sells tasty pints of beer
You can tell I’m an Oregonian because: I bought a house this year the same month I bought a Subaru with a box on top.
eileen garvin
Pays the bills as: Big Mama
Hidden talent: The Pony, a jazz dance move
Happy place: The woods
Listening to: Ella Fitzgerald
Reading: Little Fires Everywhere
Best app on my phone: iBird Plus
Spirit animal: Porcupine
Favorite cartoon character: Bugs Bunny
Mankind’s best invention: Tampons
Few people know that I once: Was a singing dance cocktail waitress on a dinner boat
Quiz show category I could crush: The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson plot lines
You can tell I’m an Oregonian because: I’m usually damp
Find me: In Post Canyon
Fell for Hood River: When I heard the frogs singing in spring
Why Livable Hood River? To retain the small town spirit we all love.
AARON BAUMHACKL
Pays the bills as: Aaron Baumhackl (Ed. note: He’s apparently shy about owning and running Solstice Wood Fire Café.)
Happy place: Floating on a river
Reading: Danny Meyer’s Setting the Table
Listening to: Outkast
Best app on my phone: The phone. Can you believe you can actually talk to people?
Mankind’s best invention: Soft-serve ice cream
Favorite cartoon character: Ralph Wiggums
Few people know that: I once lived on the island of Crete
Why Livable Hood River? It’s an opportunity to participate on issues that matter to me and our community—with an empathetic mindset that supports inclusiveness and a voice for all walks of life.