Newsline, March 27, 2011
Skyline Rural Watch Newsline
Mailbox: newsline [at] srnpdx [dot] org
Urgent: alert [at] srnpdx [dot] org
Phone: (503) 621-3501
March 27, 2011
PUBLIC SAFTEY:
More Bad Guys:
"Suspicious man seen Saturday (March 19)on Burlington Ct
Saturday, March 19, 2011, about noon we encountered a man in front of our garage (white, late 30's early 40's) with a small satchel with a wire trailing out to a tool which had a straight black handle and a bulb shaped orb about 6 inches in diameter on the end. He said he was doing routine checks for gas leaks and his tool was a "gas sniffer". He waved the bulb over the ground around the meter and said it was all fine. Then he went next door to my parents house - since Ron and I were on our way out to an event in town, we followed him in our car. I decided to get out and make sure he did not leave my folk's gate open and let their dog out as I knew they were not home. He took about one minute to wave his tool over the ground at their house and got back in his car and left. Then he did not stop to "sniff" anyone else's property, but drove straight to Linnton and turned left at the first gas station. He was driving a Volvo 850, copper color, Oregon 765 EUE.
Monday morning the Northwest Natural Gas office told me they seldom send anyone out on weekends, any person from NW Natural would be driving a company vehicle, wearing uniform with very few exceptions. Occasionally they may hire an independent contractor but that would not be for anything "routine" and routine work would most likely not happen on weekends.
If any one else saw or spoke to this man last weekend, please call the non emergency number and report to our local sheriff deputies, Gates or Jewell. Deputy Jewell told me that he and Deputy Gates will be watching for that car in the area and if we see it to call immediately 503-823-3333 to report."
Looking back, I wish we had called 911 Saturday- we were in a hurry and just went on.
And a Return Gas Siphon Attempt @ Corn Pass and Skyline
"Someone came back to our property around 5:15 AM Thursday 3/24/11, checking to see if we had locked our vehicles. Luckily, we had. We were only able to get clear surveillance pictures of their back. The person is a female in her early 30's, roughly 5' 5", weighing 140-160 lbs., long blond hair pulled into a pony tail with a metal barrett. She was wearing a jacket with a sheep skin collar, jeans, and UGG-style boots. There is also someone else's foot in the frame, so we know she was not alone. The sheriff's office has been notified"
Subject: prowler suggestion
Just another idea.... I have always taken note of cars parked on Skyline. I have post it notes in my console to write make/model/color and license plates down with date and time. Of course, I have only found this information valuable one time in the past but that one time it was very helpful. If we all make this a new habit maybe we will make difference. With the Ridge Runner being so efficient on relaying information to all of us, we will know whether what we saw could be useful or not.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS:
Skyline Grange Ivy Pull: April 2nd, 9 to noon
Most of the diseased & non native trees have been removed from our Grange Woods. The trail has been roughly defined. NOW, it's time to scour the place of the lingering ivy, vinca & holly that don't belong there either. SOLV has agreed to help us recruit more help and we're hoping perhaps even some Skyline School Students would agree to pitch in & help? Going to SOLV : http://www.solv.org to check out their volunteer opportunities in April would lead you to a "register now" button. Please consider organizing a family or school group to join in the fun & satisfaction? Queries? Tracy Watersbluewaters [at] pcez [dot] com
West Hills Woodland Night
Conservation projects are underway...Metro is purchasing property...and lots of work is planned for Forest Park! Come find out who's doing what...and why?
West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District, Forest Park Conservancy, Metro and the City of Portland have chosen Forest Stewardship Week as the time for a FREE joint information night to answer all your questions.
WHO:Michael Ahr, Forest Conservationist, West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
Elaine Stewart, Senior Natural Resources Scientist, Metro
Stephen Hatfield, Stewardship Director, Forest Park Conservancy
Kendra Petersen-Morgan, Natural Resource Ecologist, Portland Parks & Recreation
WHAT: FREE Information Night and Q & A about the West Hills
WHERE: Skyline Grange, 11275 NW Skyline Blvd
WHEN: Wednesday, April 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Representatives will talk about the projects going on in or planned for your neighborhood as well as overall visions for forest natural areas. This is also a great time to ask about what you should be doing on your land right now. Do you see a lot of invasive weeds you need to get rid of? What about thinning your woods? How about volunteer opportunities in Forest Park? Learn about how to write a stewardship plan for your land and woods.
This is the time for questions and answers! Snacks and beverages will be provided. For more information, contact Michael Ahr, WMSWCD Forest Conservationist, 503/238-4775, ext. 109;michael [at] wmswcd [dot] org.
Find out more about Forest Stewardship Week from the National Association of Conservation Districts at http://www.nacdnet.org/stewardship/2011/index.phtml.
Carolyn Myers Lindberg
Communications Coordinator
503.238.4775, ext. 101
FARM & FOREST:
Plan for Your Land
Are you interested in conserving your natural resources? Managing your rural property to save time and money? Making your land more sustainable and productive? The West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District hopes you will join us to "Plan for Your Land"! Our five week conservation planning series on Wednesday nights during April will cover topics such as inventorying your property, testing your well, managing septic fields, fostering soil health, protecting your natural resources, managing mud & manure, and much, much more. Please visit our registration website for more details athttp://www.wmswcd.org/content.cfm/Events/Plan-for-Your-Land-Series or contact Jen Nelson at 503-238-4775 ext. 111. Be sure to register soon - classes start April 6 and capacity is limited to 80 people!
SCHOOLS
Skyline School Wind Turbine
Skyline Families,
You are cordially invited to come to Skyline as we raise the 90 foot tall wind turbine on Monday, March 28 at 1:00 p.m. This project is made possible through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation's Solar 4R Schools program. This is their, and Portland Public Schools very first wind project.
It is a small scale project, primarily meant to be educational in nature. The turbine will generate power, and students will be able to view the amount of power generation on the interactive, web-based kiosk located in the school. There will be a public web site as well that will enable people to track the power generation in real time.
All of our students present that day will have the opportunity students to sign the tail of the rotor before it is installed.
Please join us to watch the tower being installed and the blades start spinning!
Regards,
Ben Keefer
Principal
Portland Secret Stairs Walking Tour, April 16th, 9 am - Noon with Local Author Laura O. Foster.
Where: Starting point at Lincoln High School, Donation: $25 with 40 spaces available
Explore some of Portland's most beautiful streets, stairs, and hidden pathways with Laura Foster, Lincoln and Skyline Parent and author of Portland Hill Walks, The Portland Stairs Book and other local guidebooks. This three hour, approximately 5-mile walk starts at Lincoln High School and climbs, climbs and climbs up into the West Hills. Along the way, learn about the area's geology, history, and architecture. Water and snacks will be provided. Questions or to sign up for the limited places call Jacqui Dowsett at 503 240 2992 or email: jsdowsett [at] comcast [dot] net.
This is a fundraising event where all proceeds go towards supporting Lincoln High School Drama Department's participation in the 2011 Edinburgh Festival in Scotland.
The LHS Drama Department's presentation of "the Trek Electric" has been selected for the 2011 Fringe Festival in Edinburgh Scotland this coming August. Laura Foster has donated her time for this fundraising tour where all proceeds and donations will be used to ensure that all the 18 members of the cast can go to the Festival and perform before an International audience. Thank you so much for your support!
Jacqui Dowsett
March 31
TVFR Volunteer Interest Night Date: March 31, 2011 Time: 7:00 pm
April 2nd:
Grange Ivy Pull
Managing and Maintaining Wells and Septic Systems
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.
