Newsline, April 9, 2011
Skyline Rural Watch Newsline
Mailbox: newsline [at] srnpdx [dot] org
Urgent: alert [at] srnpdx [dot] org
Phone: (503) 621-3501
April 9 2011
PUBLIC SAFTEY:
In Case You Had Problems Sending the Road Safety Survey....
Several people have reported problems with the PDF version of the Road Safety Survey form that SRN recently posted on its website. Problems seem to arise on some computer systems when trying to save the filled-in PDF form or attach it to an email; the original blank survey form may get attached rather than the one the person completed.
As an alternative, SRN has posted a Word document version of the survey on the SRN website at http://srnpdx.org/road-safety-survey-2011. If you had problems with the PDF, please try this one instead. You can open it with any word processing program, fill in your responses and save it as a doc, rtf or txt file. Or you can print it out and either scan and email it, or send it by postal mail. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Thanks to everyone who has responded so far. Your input is valuable and important for our neighborhood.
Opinion:
Up here on Skyline we have Elk herds, log trucks, people pushing baby buggies, people walking dogs, equestrians, trucks pulling horse trailers, bicycles, motorcycles, tractors, chickens, deer and so on.
I have been in front of, behind, in, on, and amongst many of the above mentioned. Never have I cited a vehicle code or had to resort to road rage (OK, maybe there was that one time).
A little patience, civility, and respect for life are all it takes. Living in a neighborhood implies neighborliness.
The roads up here aren’t so dangerous if we watch out for each other.
Ray Ogilvie
Moreland Road.
ENVIRONMENT:
SOLV Neighborhood Clean-up’s April 16th
Skyline families are invited to participate in two neighborhood clean-ups on Saturday, April 16, 9 am - 1 pm. Both are part of the SOLV-IT campaign and are perfect opportunities to perform community volunteer work. Snacks, safety training, plastic gloves, and safety vests will be provided. The Skyline Ridge Neighbors are gathering across from the school at 11539 NW Skyline. The Forest Park Neighborhood Association (FPNA) is gathering at NW Germantown Road & NW Skyline Blvd. To save time you can pre-register for either one at www.solv.org/programs/solv_it.asp. For more information about the FPNA check out Facebook and the web: www.forestparkneighbors.org or www.srnpdx.org for Skyline Ridge Neighbors.
GOVERNMENT:
The MitchMessage
April 3, 2011
My next town hall meeting will be at 2pm on Saturday, April 30. This will be a joint meeting with Senator Suzanne Bonamici and will be held at the Northwest Multnomah County Library at the corner of NW. 23rd and Thurman.
Portland Fire & rescue Now Accepting Applications for Fire Camp 2011
Do you know a young woman between the age of 16 and 19 who is interested in learning what being a firefighter is all about?
Portland Fire & Rescue, in partnership with other metro-area fire agencies, is offering a three-day fire training camp specifically for young women ages 16 to 19. Fire Camp 2011 will be held June 24, 25, & 26, 2011 at Portland Fire & Rescue's Training & Safety Facility located at 4800 NE 122nd Avenue in Portland, Oregon.
The goals of Fire Camp are to instill confidence, build leadership and team skills in young women, and to provide an opportunity to try firefighting through hands-on training. Fire Camp will be taught and supervised by women firefighters from the Portland metro area.
Fire Camp participants will be involved in hands-on activities, including:
* Orientation and Practical Exercises: Hydrant and hose evolutions
* Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA): Participants will practice exercise drills, become familiar with SCBA, and learn search and rescue techniques using the SCBA
* High Angle Rescue and Confined Space: Participants will learn high angle rescue techniques and simulate a confined space rescue
* Vehicle Extrication and Medical Response: Participants will work on team building exercises, visit a fire station, become familiar with different firefighting equipment and apparatus, and participate in vehicle extrication and medical response
Fire Camp will be held at no cost to participants. This is a non-residential camp and participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from camp. Applications for Fire Camp 2011 will be accepted now through May 23, 2011. Interested applicants can get more information and submit an application online at http://www.portlandonline.com/fire/firecamp.
FARM & FOREST:
Northwest Gardeners eNews
Oregon State University Extension Service
April 2011 (volume 10, no. 4)
Click here to see the following articles:
Is it time to plant vegetables? Ask your soil thermometer
Soil temperature is the best indicator of when to plant vegetables, said Annie Chozinski, OSU vegetable researcher.
Add organic matter to improve garden soils
Any composted material that has been reduced to humus is a good soil amendment.
Slow, cool composting is the easy way
Slow composting is often the best method for people who do not have time to tend a hot compost pile.
Harness the sun to kill weeds, plant diseases and pests
Put transparent plastic sheeting over moist tilled soil during the warmest and sunniest months of the year.
Create vegetable beds with 'lasagna' mulching
Sheet composting is an easy way to start or expand a garden with a minimum amount of equipment, material and time.
So many cabbages, so little time
You can buy cabbages but if you grow your own, you can try many more varieties, even red and purple ones.
WHEN IN ROME — MORE NATIVES FOR YOUR GARDEN
Native groundcovers are great for home landscapes
Groundcovers are even more effective if they are native to the area. OSU horticulturist Linda McMahan has suggestions.
Plant native Oregon shrubs now
Many native shrubs provide good color and blooms, are drought tolerant and draw wildlife.
Water wise plants are beautiful and efficient
Many plants native to Oregon qualify as water wise. Oregon iris (Iris tenax) is a good choice.
Planting dates and regions for growing Oregon vegetables
OSU Extension Service has information on how to garden successfully in all four state zones.
Potential to become invasive provokes need for sterile shrubs
Bushes and plants that are considered to be invasive could eventually be replaced with their sterile offspring, thanks to an OSU breeding program.
Unmanned aircraft aims to simplify inventory for Oregon nurseries
A team of researchers from OSU will test a new remote sensing system in three Oregon nurseries using an unmanned multi-rotor aircraft.
OSU GARDEN CALENDAR
Things to do in your garden in April
OTHER:
Raffle ticket orders available this weekend, Friday April 8 and Saturday, April 9 at the Skyline Grange Plant Sale. Tickets support a healthier future for your youth through MIKE Program in memory of long-time Skyline Ridge neighbor, Mike Hartnett, MD. Also available on http://www.mikeprogram.org/benefit_raffle Lot A includes 5 days and 4 nights at a beautiful Seaside ocean front home. Sleeps 14. Generous time limits, though some date restrictions apply. Perfect for a book club getaway, mini family-reunion, strategic retreat with work colleagues or personal time at the coast! Includes 4 tickets to the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria. Lot B is a staycation at Portland's eastside boutique Jupiter Hotel, home of the Doug Fir Lounge, and a $100 dollar dinner package at the Laurelhurst Market. This would be great for entertaining (and putting up!) out-of-town guests or to avoid the drive home after an evening on the town.
Next SRN Board Meeting: Thursday April 14, 7 pm and Brooks Hill Historic Church
Go to the SRN calendar for information regarding the Skyline School Used Book Sale; Guided Hikes; SOLV Day Information; And there's still time to get to the Grange Native Plant and Tree Sale!
The SRN Resource Directory is published as a service for Skyline area residents. It lists a wide variety of businesses that are either located in our area, or whose owners live here. It also lists many governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations that provide services to the Skyline neighborhood.
Listing of organizations and businesses herein does not imply any endorsement of SRN nor does it imply a lack of endorsement for similar organizations or businesses not included. =)
About the Newsline:
Skyline Rural Watch Newsline is a part of Skyline Ridge Neighbors (SRN) and has been produced since June 1994 as a means to communicate neighborhood information. The Newsline is produced by Laurel Erhardt (editor) with help from Miles Merwin, Rich Edwards, Libby Merwin, Sharon Barthmaier, Jennifer Jenkins, Sara Bowersox and Sen Speroff.
The Newsline depends on you as a source of accurate information about local crimes, upcoming events, and other news pertinent to the area. If you have information you would like considered for the Newsline, you may do so by e-mailing the information to newsline [at] srnpdx [dot] org, or leaving a message at (503) 621-3501. Urgent, timely items (crimes, lost pets) should be emailed to alert [at] srnpdx [dot] org.
If you would like more detailed information about any item on the Newsline, request that information & SRN will e-mail it to you if available.
You can subscribe to the Newsline at the Skyline Ridge Neighbors Website, SRNPDX.org. Tell your neighbors about this free Newsline service.
About Skyline Ridge Neighbors:
SRN is a neighborhood association serving much of unincorporated northwest Multnomah County and some adjacent areas within the city of Portland. SRN is registered as a neighborhood association within Multnomah County, registered as a non-profit public benefit corporation with the State of Oregon and approved as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization under the IRS Code. SRN is operated by volunteers and with donated funds entirely.
If you would like to donate to SRN in support of its activities, such as this free Newsline service and the publication of its quarterly Skyline Ridge Runner, send your donation to “Skyline Ridge Neighbors”, c/o Karen Garber, 16238 NW McNamee Rd., Portland, OR 97231 Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
