Newsline, July 9, 2011
Skyline Rural Watch Newsline
Mailbox: newsline [at] srnpdx [dot] org
Urgent: alert [at] srnpdx [dot] org
Phone: (503) 621-3501
July 9, 2011
PUBLIC SAFTEY:
Lyme Disease Alert
This is from a neighbor on Valley Vista Road off of Phillips...
Hi All,
Just a word of caution. Today I was diagnosed with Lyme disease. I had been walking through tall grasses in my back pasture about 3 weeks ago and didn’t notice the tick bite on my thigh or the rash that ensued. One morning last week, I woke up with terrible joint aches, and thought I had overdone it with the horses or something. I took an Epsom Salts soak to try to relieve the pain and noticed a round rash…still didn’t think anything of it. Yesterday, when my joints didn’t get any better, and actually worse, I looked up Lyme Disease and started putting all the symptoms together. I went to the doctor today, they confirmed it and put me on 3 weeks of antibiotics. I have a pretty good chance of recovery since we caught it in the first month.
So why am I sharing this with you? I didn’t even know that we had LD in this area. If you have a rash or achy joints, get to your doctor right away. Don’t wait for it to go away like I did, wasting a week of precious treatment time.
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY DECLARES FIRE SEASON IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
News Release from: Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue
Posted: July 8th, 2011 4:02 PM
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will declare Fire Season in Washington County, starting at 1:00 am on July 11. Fire season is determined by the state forester when vegetation becomes dry and fires become harder to control.
Fire season restrictions that go into effect in ODF Protection Areas within Washington County on July 11, are as follows:
* The use of fireworks will be prohibited.
* Debris burning will be prohibited.
* Burn permits will be required for any burning and the burn site must be inspected by ODF prior to ignition.
Warnings and citations will be issued by ODF should individuals be found burning without permits in ODF Protection Areas in Washington County. Individuals wishing to obtain a burn permit through ODF should call the ODF main office at 503-357-2191 or the ODF dispatch center at 503-359-7424.
While TVF&R's service area is largely unaffected by the ODF declaration, it places all Washington County fire departments in a heightened state of readiness for wildfires, and is the first step in moving towards a countywide Burn Ban in the near future. Once a countywide Burn Ban is declared, there will be no burning of any kind allowed in Washington County. More details will be release upon the declaration of a Burn Ban.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS:
First Forest Park Watch Volunteer Training
Greetings Friends,
We’ve set our first training date for Forest Park Watch Volunteers for Saturday July 23 from 8:00 AM to about 3:00 at Hoyt Arboretum. We are limiting the number for our first training so please email me(Robert [dot] McCoy [at] portlandoregon [dot] gov) if you are interested by Friday July 8. (my apologies for the late notice, hopefully Bob will still entertain late comers - LE)
Our training will consist of both classroom training on the 23rd and subsequent field training. I’ve attached the volunteer program mission statement (see end of article)and will email you materials once you have confirmed you can attend. The classroom training will include a brief park history, current state of the park, current issues, observation and reporting skills, patrol procedures, and other pertinent topics.
We are looking for volunteers who
Are at least 18 years old,
Are comfortable working in a group engaging park users about park etiquette and safety,
Are positive and welcoming to all park users, and
Can remain calm and even-tempered when park users disagree or won’t abide by park rules.
Volunteers will be educating, helping, informing, and observing while on patrol. For safety’s sake you will not have enforcement power or authority over any park users. Every volunteer will have to go through the training and be willing to have a criminalbackground check performed by the City. I hope to hear from you soon.
Kind regards,
Bob McCoy
City of Portland
Forest Park Ranger
503-823-5596
Forest Park “Park Watch” Mission Statement
Portland Parks and Recreation created the Forest Park volunteer Park Watch Program to effectively educate Park visitors about safety and etiquette issues and to collect data the City may use to inform future Park policies and Park Ranger priorities. Trained volunteers will work in groups of 3 or more while in the Park to
- Distribute safety awareness information and advice,
- Present a visible presence for park user concerns,
- Advocate for proper user etiquette by educating park users about dog-off-leash behavior and sustainable trail practices,
- Record and report on Park use and misuse to the Forest Park Ranger after each patrol, and
- To enjoy the park as a group while modeling park user behavior necessary to maintain and improve the Park’s health.
Volunteers in the Park Watch Program are expected to practice safety at all times; be an educational resource, never an enforcement tool; and to maintain close communication with the Forest Park Ranger and local police representatives. They will engage park users in a positive manner with the goal of educating people about how they may contribute to keeping Forest Park healthy for future generations.
GOVERNMENT:
Urban Growth Boundries
From: Daniel B. Cooper Metro Acting Chief Operating Officer
July 5, 2011
As someone who is concerned about protecting the quality of life in our
region, I want you to know about a proposal I offered to the Metro Council
today that includes a few options for small expansions of the urban growth
boundary. These options are located in targeted areas to support ongoing
efforts to sustain and enhance the region's great communities.
In past years, state law required the Metro Council make larger expansions
of the urban growth boundary in some areas that were not prepared for them.
Today, because our region has chosen to invest in safe communities where
people can walk to the services that they need, we can focus more attention
on bringing jobs and people to our downtowns, main streets and employment
areas, which in turn protects farmland and natural areas.
The modest expansions of the urban growth boundary I am proposing are not
just lines on a map. The decision the Metro Council makes this fall will
affect how our existing communities develop and thrive, and how we invest in
good jobs and safe neighborhoods, protect farms and forest land, and make
the most of the investments we have already made in our existing schools,
parks, sidewalks, streets and other public structures.
My proposal today is just that: a proposal. And though the urban growth
boundary expansions I’ve proposed are limited, the Metro Council will likely
be even more selective when it makes a final decision this October. _That’s
why your ideas and comments are important._
Throughout the month of July, we want to hear from you: what areas should
the Metro Council consider, what areas should the Council not consider, and
why? Should the Metro Council consider any expansions of the urban growth
boundary this year?
There are several ways you can provide your views and comments:
* If you have not already done so, please sign up for Opt In, Metro’s
online opinion panel. Opt In provides a new way to share your views to
help shape the future of our region. Those who have enrolled in Opt In
by Friday, July 15, will receive a link to participate in a survey about
this fall’s growth management decision. The survey will close on Friday,
July 29.
www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id/35824
* Attend a public meeting or open house to learn more about the upcoming
urban growth decision, ask questions and provide your ideas to Metro
staff and councilors. _An open house and information forum will be held
from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, at the Hillsboro Civic Center
Auditorium, located at 150 E. Main St._
* Send your comments via email to 2040 [at] oregonmetro [dot] gov. Email messages
will be shared with Metro Councilors and included in the public record.
* Send a letter to via U.S. Mail to Metro Council, 600 NE Grand Ave.,
Portland, OR 97232.
* Contact your Metro Councilor directly[5].
www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=778
Staff will provide to the Metro Council and its advisory committees this
fall all of the comments we receive on my proposal over the summer. The
Council is currently scheduled to vote on whether to expand the urban growth
boundary before the end of October.
You can find a copy of my proposal, along with maps and more information on
public comment opportunities, at www.oregonmetro.gov/greatestplace. I
hope you’ll take the time to review the materials and provide your feedback
on this important decision.
Regards,
Daniel B. Cooper
Metro Acting Chief Operating Officer
dan [dot] cooper [at] oregonmetro [dot] gov
The MitchMessage
July 6, 2011 The end of session
I have two town hall meetings with Sen. Suzanne Bonamici to discuss the recently-adjourned legislative session. The first will be at 10am on Saturday, August 13 at the Leedy Grange, 835 NW. Saltzman Rd, near NW. Cornell Rd. The second will be held that same day, starting at 2pm at the Northwest Multnomah County Library at the corner of NW. 23rd and Thurman.
To read the entire message go to: The MitchMessage
FROM SKYLINE RIGDE NEIGHBORS WEBSITE - SRNPDX.ORG
Community Calendar
SRN Board Meeting: Thursday, July 14th 7:00 pm @ Brooks Hill Historic Church
Skyline Ridge Neighbors Summer Gathering - Sunday August 21st. Where, what and how to help and contribute!
Resource Directory:
As a service to neighbors, SRN publishes a listing of local government agencies and businesses in the Skyline Resource Directory. Follow the links in this section to view its contents and learn how to add a business or agency listing.
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, Libby Merwin, Sharon Barthmaier, 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.
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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.
