Columns

The Hull Foundation and Learning Center provides programs and services unlike any other organization supporting people with sight loss and blindness. Many community members know of the Foundation, yet few realize the full scope of what happens behind the scenes.  One of the most meaningful services offered is the Referral Program, created in partnership with Kaiser and open to anyone seeking support. Each person referred receives a welcome packet filled with information about

When people ask me why I became a therapist, the most common answer they hear is something like, “I want to help people.” And that’s true. It’s a privilege to walk alongside someone as they work through pain, loss, or difficult seasons in life. But there’s another side to the story that doesn’t get talked about as much: therapists are helped by their clients too. Over the past 35 years, I’ve spent tens of thousands of hours in therapy conversations. During that time, I’ve wat

Hi neighbors!  I’m Tina Hergert, a registered nurse, a health coach, and a Sandy resident. I’ve lived here my entire adult life. This community is home, and I care about how we feel, how we live, and how long we stay well. I chose to write this column for a simple reason. Too many people struggle to access care. Appointments take weeks or months. Costs add up. When people finally get in, they often leave with more questions than answers. Many get told, “Your labs are normal,”

It’s surprisingly easy to go through an entire day without eating a single fresh fruit or vegetable. For many kids, the day begins with cereal and milk for breakfast, moves on to a school lunch built around packaged or processed foods, and ends with a quick dinner like mac & cheese or nuggets. Adults often fall into similar patterns — skipping breakfast, grabbing fast food between responsibilities, or relying on simple, rushed dinners that don’t include any fresh ingredients.

Place of birth: Albuquerque, NM How long have you lived in Sandy: In the late 80s, I lived in Welches, then moved back to Sandy 10 years ago in 2016 If you were not brought here as a child, what brought you to the area? My Dad was the first architect to work with Fred Meyer's first location. So we moved here to Beaverton when I was in the 2 nd  grade – to Sexton Mountain area, but we only stayed for a year. Then we moved to Welches, where my mom worked as the PE teacher in

Before I climb into this month’s topic, an update to last month’s column on park/parking passes. A faithful reader reminded me that you can get a free day-use pass to any of the several Clackamas County Parks, including Barlow Wayside, through our local public library system. To reserve, you’ll need a library card and access to the library web site, www.ci.sandy.or.us/library (click on Cultural Pass Express). Note that your pass must be printed out and displayed on your vehi

If you’ve ever attended a Rotary Club meeting, you’ve likely noticed that  no matter where in the world it takes place, it ends the same way: with four simple questions. These questions form what Rotarians call The Four-Way Test, and they’ve guided the organization’s members for more than 80 years. At first glance, the Test may seem like a brief checklist, something simple enough to memorize in a minute. But in practice, it’s far more than that. These four questions represent

In November, I was honored to be appointed to represent House District 51 in the Oregon Legislature, filling the seat left vacant by former Representative Christine Drazan. As a lifelong Oregonian with deep roots in this district, it’s been a privilege to step into this role and serve the people of Sandy, Estacada, Canby, and the unincorporated communities that make Clackamas County so special. Since being sworn in, I’ve hit the ground running. I’ve been visiting with constit