I do not exactly remember when I met Cortlan, but one day here at the Advocate office there was a dude with really long and big hair who said he was interested in doing some illustrations for the paper. Photograph by Prisma Flores And my goodness, he truly does some amazing drawings with his hands. Cortlan says he has been drawing since he could hold writing instruments in his hands but growing up, he never really thought it could be anything serious or a thing he could do f

Walking down Main Street in Gresham, you’re bound to be drawn in by a multitude of exciting restaurants, secondhand stores, and shops. Toys, books, clothing, coffee, tacos: Shopping around in Gresham is not an average experience, it’s an adventure, and like any good adventure, it’s best to end it with a treat. Enter iCandy, a sweets shop located at the corner of Fourth and Main. Like most candy stores it sells a variety of colorful confections, but unlike most candy stores it

Photo sourced from albinamusictrust.com After over twenty years as an employee of Mt. Hood Community College, longtime academic adviser Calvin Walker has retired this spring. I had the opportunity to interview him after his departure, during which I learned about his path through MHCC, his advising philosophy, and how he has seen our school change over the years. Walker worked in several positions during his tenure here, starting in 2003 as a development director for the camp

Photo provided by MHCC Marketing With mental health concerns more openly addressed and far less stigmatized than in the past, there’s been surging interest in the counseling career field. Many students want to be part of helping their community to heal. May is National Mental Health month – so I sat down with Karen Green, MHCC’s Director of the Mental Health, Social Services, Addiction Counseling A.A. Program, to talk about her offerings here at Mt. Hood. As it turns out, Gre

Graphic by Randall Chapman To the late artist Jean Michel Basquiat is often attributed to the quote, “Art is how we decorate space, music is how we decorate time.” If you decide to stroll around the Mt. Hood Community College Gresham campus, you’ll see that there’s a certain lack of art – and music. But it hasn’t always been that way: Once upon a time, MHCC’s student-run radio station, KMHD2, broadcast wonderful melodies carefully curated by students through some of the open,

In 1967, voters in East Multnomah County approved a general obligation bond measure to raise $6.5 million to start building the Mt. Hood Community College Gresham campus. In 1974, a “Phase 2” bond measure was also approved, for another $6 million. And since that time, Mt. Hood Community College has not seen a bond pass, with a half-dozen failed attempts at the ballot box. Today the campus is a bit on the old side, having been built roughly 50 years ago. Security and infrastr

With spring upon us, wildflowers are now blooming, and there is no better place to see them than on a hike in the Columbia River Gorge. Photos by Kane Finders One great option, Coyote Wall, sits just east of Hood River on the Washington side of the Columbia and offers a steep climb to the top of the Gorge rim. Along the way are streams, spectacular views, and plenty of wildflowers. To be prepared for this hike, it is a necessity to bring water, food, and other survival tools.

Photos by Andrew Hull Fernando Fantroy has been coaching in the Mt. Hood Community College Athletics Department since 2015, helping distance runners, sprinters, hurdlers and other field athletes improve their performance. First joining as an assistant, Fantroy became co-head coach of the Saints track teams in 2018. That followed the death of head coach Doug Bowman from cancer a year earlier. He would soon be named head coach of both the Mt. Hood Track & Field and Cross Countr

Photo by Lindsay Leeman Mt. Hood Community College has a new counselor here to serve its students and help them with the trials and tribulations of college life: Collette Feasler, who was born, raised in and has lived around east Multnomah County their whole life. “The eastside is my home and I’m so happy to give back to the community that helped nurture me into who I am today,” they told me. Even more important, Feasler has strong personal ties to Mt. Hood. They grew up goin

There is a quaint little museum located just off U.S. Highway 26 in the town of Boring, a few minutes from the Mt. Hood Community College campus. But it just isn’t any ordinary museum – it’s one that focuses on the Pacific Northwest’s most famous cryptid: Welcome to the North American Bigfoot Center. The Center, run by Cliff Barackman and his wife, Melissa, opened back in 2019. Cliff is one of the hosts of Animal Planet’s “Finding Bigfoot” series. The show focuses on a team o

Our News Editor, Kane Finders, was recently approached by students wondering, “What is up with all the little ducks?” This was news to us at The Advocate, and so we set out to investigate and follow the trail of the mystery fowl that have mushroomed across the MHCC Gresham campus, multiplying since autumn. David Favreault, a mathematics instructor at Mt. Hood, provided evidence of the event in the form of a little resin, or ceramic, duckie with a Christmas hat. According to s

My name is Devin Singh, but I also go by my pen name, “Devonno art,” or simply “Devonno.” I’m a traditional artist currently working as a comic/illustrator for The Advocate. I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember, and been exploring the professional side of art ever since the beginning of high school. I’ve gotten a lot of experience through commission pieces, as well as being an artistic editor and director for a few books and graphic novels. So far I’ve been on the

Images from saraquinnrivara.com Did you know that our Dean of Humanities and Social Science departments at Mt. Hood was just nominated for an Oregon Book Award for 2024? Sara Quinn Rivara is an accomplished vocalist and poet, who recently published her third book of poetry, “Little Beast.” You’ve maybe seen her on campus, but now you get to hear about her personal thoughts and her literary work, through a recent Q&A session. Advocate: When did you first start writing poetry?

Photo by Marissa Ellsworth Hiding in plain sight is a program at Mt. Hood that exists for those with a deep love of nature. I’m sure if you’ve spent any time on campus, you’ve passed our hallways, spotted our study groups, and have seen our teachers. Yet for most students here on the Gresham campus, Natural Resources Technology (NRT) is not a program they have heard of. So, let me bring you into the world of NRT. I have always loved the natural world but never thought I could

30 January 2024 After the big freeze, came the thaw, and then the big rain. Yesterday we finally got the big warm up and the sun emerged, albeit briefly, to remind us that cold and gray is not a forever state. Of course, we had already emerged from our houses after the storm-imposed “staycation” to survey the full results of the fury of strong winds paired with Arctic air. The grounds crew has done a fabulous job of clearing parking lots and sidewalks of treefall and debris,

Photo by Helena Chalmers Making films is something I’ve always dreamed of doing. Up until this year, I had effectively shoved that dream into a closet and wrote it off as impractical, just a hobby, and nothing more than a silly dream. I spent most of my young adult life searching for a practical career that would satiate that dream, and I found no luck. Every “good” job I found eventually made me sick, and the stress and demands of the job were never worth the salary. Then I

Barney’s Pantry is a resource that Mt. Hood has been offering for several years. Beyond individual food and personal hygiene items, it gives students the opportunity to receive a food box upon request. But big changes with the Pantry soon should give students an even bigger opportunity to obtain the resources they need. And there is one man overseeing the entire expansion, Steve Herff. Photo by Sabrina Kuhlmann Throughout his life, Herff discovered his passion for helping oth

Photos provided by Lacoda Kiesel Howe Stickers: We all have them, and we all like them. My friend, Serena Bowman, likes them so much that she made a whole business surrounding them. Between her art and business classes at MHCC, I’ve gotten her to sit down for an interview about it, and give us all a little more insight into the world of stickers. Advocate: What made you start your sticker business? Serena: I remember in freshman year of high school that I was drawing little d

December truly marks the beginning of the winter season, which brings snow, ice and more to Oregon highways. With these often-tricky weather situations come additional hazards when you hit the road. While in seriously stormy situations it is best to stay at home to avoid the heightened risk, sometimes we do have to venture out into snow or ice while driving. With this in mind, we hope to share some valuable tips for motorists. Depending on your destination, before you set off

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and tasty food, but that does not mean you have to overspend. With a bit of smart planning, you can create a delightful holiday spread without breaking the bank. So, roll up your sleeves, head to the kitchen, and create a feast that is both scrumptious and affordable. Here are a few recipes that will make your Thanksgiving both delicious and cost-effective. Good taste doesn’t need to come at a high price! Herb-infused Roast Turkey Go for a