The Mount Hood Business Alliance isn’t wasting any time.

The group, only recently formed, reflected its primary goal to be an action-
oriented alliance by announcing at its Jan. 19 meeting that a new pharmacy
on the Mountain is a distinct possibility.

At the MBA meeting, John Archer, Thriftway store manager, said the store is a
possible site for the project.

“We have space now, and the ability to move things around,” Archer said.
He pointed out, however, that the pharmacy idea would have to go through
channels with ownership.

The idea was fueled by an accidental connection made at Wy’east Book
Shoppe & Art Gallery when store owner (and MBA member) Sandra Palmer
got into a discussion with a Mountain pharmacist.

Jeff Williams has lived on the Mountain for six years, and for the past year has
been flying back and forth to Wyoming providing pharmacist services for
Safeway.

“And I’m not doing that anymore,” Williams said.

He has been a pharmacist for 40 years, and admitted he has talked about the
idea of a Mountain community pharmacy for a long time.

“People keep saying, ‘do it,’” he said. “I’m certainly open to talking about it
(with Thriftway). The Mountain certainly needs that service.”

The next step is for Archer, Williams and Thriftway ownership to get the idea
rolling, and MBA is pushing the stone.

“If it wasn’t for this group, this wouldn’t be happening,” Palmer said.

Rick Applegate, owner of Mt. Hood Roasters, has been active in the new
business alliance, and is pleased it has made a pharmacy its No. 1 priority.

“Most people don’t understand that business and economic development can,
and should be, the cornerstone of sustainability and green living,” Applegate
said. “If we can encourage the planting of a pharmacy here, can you imagine
the sheer number of trips to Sandy that can be averted and the amount of
petroleum that might be saved?

“Second, it is a quality of life issue. Rapid access to medication will certainly
benefit everyone, especially the retirement community, those who have
serious but temporary ailments, those without reliable transportation and
those who are living on very limited resources.”

If the project goes through, Williams says he’ll bring an old-fashioned
approach to the duties of a pharmacist.

“A pharmacy should run like the Mountain – people oriented,” he said. “It
wouldn’t be a drive-through pharmacy. I believe a pharmacist needs to come
out from behind the counter, look at a baby’s rash, and tell parents to go see
a doctor.”

The MBA welcomes members, there are no dues, and meeting times can be
obtained by contacting one of its officers: Larry Rose, President, 622-6000; or
Diana Jones, Secretary-Treasurer, 703-3441.