This is taken directly from the planning department www.co.wasco.or.us/planning/planhome.html

newletter January 2012 with there permission to repost.

Whenever the Planning Department receives a land use application, one of the first steps we have to take is determining the legality of the parcel. Per Section 1.090 of the land use and development ordinance, a parcel is determined to be legal if it was created through one of three ways:

1. a duly recorded partition process OR
2. a duly recorded subdivision OR
3. a deed or sales contract prior to September 4, 1974

September 4, 1974 is the date on which partition laws are recognized to have come into effect throughout Wasco County. Any parcels created by deed or sales contract before this date are considered grandfathered in to the current land use system. Unfortunately, we frequently come across properties that were created illegally -- typically in the late 1970s or early 1980s -- when the county's land use laws were still relatively new.

Take, for example, a farmer in 1977 who owns 400 acres and decides to deed several 30 acre portions of the property to family members without going through the required partition process. Today, the people who own those 30 acre parcels cannot develop their property because their property was not legally created. They cannot build, renovate or replace any structures on the property.

So what can you do if you own property that may have been created illegally?

The state legislature attempted to offer relief to people caught in this unfortunate situation via House Bill 2723, which went into effect on January 1, 2008. House Bill 2723 essentially allows you to trace an illegal property back in time to the date it was created and examine the zoning at that time to determine if it could have been created legally through the county's process.  

Unfortunately, the HB 2723 process does not work for all illegal properties, and even when it works it can be cumbersome. Most importantly, do your due diligence before purchasing or transferring property. Check with the title company to make sure there's a deed for the property recorded before September 4, 1974 AND the legal description matches exactly the legal description on the current deed. If no such deed exists, check with the Planning Department and confirm a recorded partition or subdivision created the parcel legally.

10 things every homeowner should know

Think quick. Where’s your main water valve shut off? Does your homeowners insurance policy give you “replacement coverage” or “actual cash value” for your belongings? If you’re drawing a blank for either of these questions, read on for the top 10 pieces of knowledge that keep homeowners prepared.

1. Read your homeowners insurance policy carefully.
Don’t wait until disaster strikes to discover what’s in your policy — get familiar with it now. Make sure you have "replacement coverage" for your contents instead of “actual cash value.” The latter means that your insurance company will deduct depreciation from the overall value of your contents.

2. Save your home improvement receipts.
Home improvements that add to the value of your home, prolong its useful life, or adapt it to new uses — such as building a deck or adding central air — can pay off when it comes time to sell. The federal government allows a single homeowner $250,000 in tax-free home-sale profit (double that amount for married couples), but money spent on capital improvements is subtracted from your profit, reducing the amount you may have to pay. For more information, visit the IRS website.

3. Know where the main valve shutoffs are located.
Keep your house and its inhabitants safe by learning where your main electrical, water, and gas shutoffs are located. Check at the main breaker panel or outside near a service entrance for your main electrical switch. Your main water shutoff is likely located near your furnace or water heater. The gas shutoff is located near the gas meter, which may be inside or outside the house.

4. Inspect your roof regularly.
Experts recommend getting your roof professionally inspected if it’s more than 12 years old. In the meantime, you can use binoculars to check for deteriorated flashings or broken shingles. If your roof is basically in good shape, it may be necessary to only replace the damaged or missing shingles. Make sure to keep leaves and other debris off the roof — water can get in through your shingles and ultimately to your ceilings.

5. Look for leaks.
Check periodically for water leaks and repair them as soon as possible. The longer you ignore a leak, the more expensive it can become to fix. One way to tell if you have a leak is to turn off all faucets and water-using appliances. Remove the water meter box and see if the flow indicator is moving. If it is, you may have a leak.

6. Don’t neglect your gutters.
Plugged up gutters are disasters waiting to happen. Gutters and downspouts need to be debris-free so they can function properly, diverting water away from the house and basement. Most experts recommend cleaning your gutters no less than twice a year. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, hire a professional.

7. Know your neighbors.
They’re good for more than an occasional cup of sugar. Neighbors can keep an eye on your house, hold onto a spare key or even help you out in an emergency.

8. Weatherproof your house.
A drafty house can be uncomfortable and expensive. Take the time to seal air leaks by caulking and weather stripping your doors and caulking around your windows. Not only will it save you money in reduced utilities bills, it will make you aware of any potential door and window repairs or replacements.

9. When it comes to finding the right contractor, take your time.
Save yourself a possible headache and do your homework. Ask friends, neighbors, and colleagues for recommendations. Get a few estimates in writing,. Avoid advance payments other than a small deposit when the work starts — you should pay only for work that has been completed.

10. Be careful where you store hazardous products.
Don’t store flammables near a furnace, water heater or boiler. Instead, store them in a cool, dry place, preferably on a different shelf from non-hazardous chemicals. Remember to never remove product labels, as they identify the substance and contain important emergency treatment information.

List provided by AHS (American Home Shield)

Please join us for our annual Mutt Mosey September 17th2011. This event is fun for the whole family, with games, prizes and good food. Don’t be left out of this fun event! Itinerary 10:00am Registration and begin walk 12:00pm- 3:00pm Halapalooza begins! Games, fun, food and prizes!

Time: Noon-9pm
Location: Between 5th & 7th Streets and Cascade and Columbia Streets in downtown Hood River

Dates: October 14-16, 2011
Times: Friday 1pm-7pm is Senior Day: Half-price for seniors (65+) all day and lots of senior specials
Saturday 10am-7pm Sunday 10am-5pm

29^th Annual Hood River Valley Harvest Fest

Each fall, Hood River Valley hosts an old-fashioned harvest festival with local produce and food products, arts and crafts, wine- and beer-tastings: all the best our County has to offer.  
You’ll enjoy:

• Produce Row, where you’ll find for purchase Anjou pears, heirloom apples, pumpkins, berries, roasted nuts, and flowers
• A smorgasbord of freshly prepared foods including homemade pies, artisan jams, fresh breads, smoked salmon, chocolate-covered nuts, and more
• Over 100 art vendors, including local Columbia Gorge glass, wood sculpture, ceramics, photography, fiber art, jewelry, unique beauty projects, and much more
• Kids zone with pumpkin and face painting, a petting zoo, balloon twister, and bouncy houses
• The carving of an 800-pound pumpkin by the Guinness Book Record Holder
• Food court with lots of local and traditional favorites
• Columbia Gorge wines and craft beers
• Horse-drawn carriage rides with beautiful Friesian horses
• Plenty of live music in the entertainment tent
• A pie-eating contest!

The weekend festival is held in mid-October on the Hood River waterfront overlooking the Columbia River, where visitors can relax and watch windsurfers and kiteboarders play on the water.

Most home buyers are not experts on all the systems that can go wrong in a home.  That is one reason to have a home inspection prior to signing the contract on your new dream home.  Having a skilled professional inspect key components of your new investment can reduce unwelcome surprises and your financial risk. The home inspector will determine the condition of the major aspects of the home including: structure, plumbing, electrical, heating, air-conditioning, roof, as well as others, and determine those that will require extensive repair as well as general maintenance issues.  The inspector provides a written report of all the issues found in the home.  The inspection report is not a guarantee of future performance or life expectancy of the homes components, but is a description of the condition of the home at the time of inspection.

When you hire a home inspector to look at your prospective purchase make every effort to attend the home inspection.  This gives you the opportunity to see what the inspector is looking at first hand, and learn more about the home to make an informed decision on what may be the most important purchase you will make.

So, you have found your dream home and hire an inspector, but are having trouble understanding exactly what they mean when they use terms like “serviceable condition” and “conducive to deterioration”.  Here are some questions you can ask to better understand your home inspector’s findings and make smart decisions as a homebuyer.

1. Can you show me how that works? There can be many different mechanical or other systems in your home that can be confusing for a new homeowner.  Your inspector can show you how everything in the home works, from your thermostat, to your water heater, to your stove and dishwasher.  It is especially important to know about the emergency shutoffs for your gas, water and electrical utilities.  This one single item is such a stress saver that it alone can be worth the lost income of missing a day of work to attend your inspection. 
2. Can you show me where that is? Sometimes when you attend the home inspection you might be distracted when the inspector finds an issue.  You might be taking pictures, measuring, or even meeting the neighbors.  A good practice is while you’re all still at the property ask the inspector to walk you through the home, pointing out all the items they’ve noted.  When you get their written report you will better understand all the items that need repair or maintenance.
3. Is that something I can do, or do I need to hire a professional?  Items on the inspection report might be easy do-it-yourself projects.  There are many instructional videos on the internet that show how to do easy repairs.  If you are not comfortable doing you own repairs, you can always hire someone.
   
   Even if the job does require a professional, the inspector may be able to give you referrals so that you can get bids during the contingency period.  This information may be useful in your negotiations with the seller.
4. If this was your house, what would you do? What order would you fix things in?  Remember, your inspector’s job is to tell you about everything, within the scope of the inspection that might need repair, replacement, maintenance or further.  They also know that no home is perfect.  
   This question allows your home inspector to help you understand what does and doesn’t need to be repaired.  Just because something is listed as at the “end of useful life” does not mean you must replace it immediately, it may just mean you need to be aware that it might break soon, and will need replaced rather than repaired.  It can also help you prioritize the work you plan to do. 
5. How bad is it?  The inspector’s job is to inform you of all issues in the house that are in need of maintenance or repair. Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out what is a big deal, and what isn’t.  It is important for the home buyer to understand if the issue is replacing an electrical outlet, or rewiring the entire house.  You need to ask the questions so that you can understand how serious the problem might be.

  Remember the home inspector is working for you.  Their job is to provide you with the information about the condition of the property so that you can make an informed decision about this very important purchase.

6-30  Celebrating Family Farms
         @ The Dalles Art Center, in conjunction with "Running with Ladders"

20    Music in the Park    Coyote Creek: Hot Country Music!
        6PM @ City Park (5th & Union)  The Dalles, OR; FREE Admission

27    The Dalles Wed. Farmers Market      4-7PM @ City Park @ 5th & Union
       
27-30  Hood River County Fair
                    www.hoodriverfair.com


29    The Dillon Ban: LIVE!       7PM @ Clock Tower Ales  

29    Jeff Carrel, The Dragonflies & Pretty Deep Rock: LIVE!
        6:30-10PM @ Sunshine Mill
       
29    Oregon Cycle Bikeride        Touring the Gorge Area
                www.oregoncycleride.org

30    Farmers Market
        8AM-1PM @ The Dalles City Park, located on E. 5th & Union
       
30    4th Annual Mt. Hood Cycling Classic
        Kid's Race @ Water's Edge in The Dalles
        www.mthoodcyclingclassic.com

30    STYX & YES @ Maryhill Winery
        Gates Open @ 5:30PM, Concert @ 7PM
               www.maryhillwinery.com

30    Show-N-Shine Car Show
        11AM @ Earl Snell Park, Arlington, OR
       
30    The Connolly Brothers: LIVE! @ the Bingen Park
        www.whitesalmonevents.com

Little League Regional Baseball & Softball Tournament 
The Dalles, OR.

July 1st - 8th, 2011 

Baseball @ Kramer Field

Softball @ 16th St. Ball Park

 Come and Celebrate with us!  

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Approximately 56 teams will be participating in this tournament - Ages ranging from 9-15 years old, plus their families and fans.

http://www.thedalleschamber.com/music-in-park/music.htm

All concerts are FREE and begin @ 6pm in The Dalles City park on 5th & Union, starting June 22nd with  Quinchua Mashis http://www.incasite.com/

July 20th Coyote Creek http://www.theofficialcoyotecreek.com/

August 17th Todd Haaby http://www.toddhaabymusic.com/

September 14th The New Iberians Blues & Zydeco   http://www.newiberians.com/

Join us for wonderful events in a picturesque park setting.

The three-day contest includes 17 timed competitive special stages, with the action taking place at Portland International Raceway on Friday and on the challenging forest and county gravel roads around Hood River, The Dalles and Dufur on Saturday and Sunday. The event is the most popular on the six event national schedule and normally attracts more than fifty domestic and international teams and legions of fans. Those fans will have plenty of opportunities to meet their favorite drivers and watch the rally action over 120 miles of competition roads and fan friendly super special stages at PIR.

Saturday morning starts with another Parc Expose at 10 am in The Dalles (2600 W. 6th St., immediately off of I-84 exit 83). At 11 am the cars will leave at one minute intervals and head out to the forest stages which include the spectator favorite at Fir Mountain. Rally fans in Oregon are familiar with this Hood River site, and 1,000 fans packed the hillside last year. Special parking and shuttles are being implemented this year so that fans don't have to hike a mile to the spectator location.

 After a service stop back in The Dalles the show moves out to the Dufur area (15 miles south of The Dalles).  A rally car service area will be set up in the City Park, with spectating venues nearby. At the service areas, teams refuel and make necessary repairs to their cars. The service areas are open to the public and are similar to being in the pits at a circuit track race. Take a walk through the service area and you will see the mechanics work on the cars under time restrictions. The top teams can change a transmission and get a car back on the road within 20 minutes.

 Saturday's action concludes in downtown Dufur at 8 pm with a "Rally Street Party & Barbeque" in the city park open to all rally fans.

 On Sunday, teams return to Dufur, with breakfast served at Dufur City Park from 7:30 to 10:00 am, which will benefit The Ramsey Park Grange. The breakfast is open to the public to come meet the rally teams and enjoy a warm morning meal, while raising money for a great cause.  The motorsport action continues around the Dufur area all day, with the champions taking the podium on Dufur's Main Street around 4 pm.