Join Us Online for SRN's Annual Spring Meeting, April 22
Save the Date! SRN has tentatively scheduled the 2021 Summer Gathering for August 21, if large outdoor gatherings are allowed by then. (Photo: J. Kissinger)
By Emily Bennett
The days are getting longer, the spring bulbs are starting to bloom, and it’s time for the SRN Annual Spring Meeting. We won’t be ready to gather in person, but the SRN board didn’t want to miss the opportunity to share some news and updates with the community. We will hold the annual meeting virtually this year on Thursday, April 22, starting at 7 PM. There will be notifications sent on the Skyline Ridge Newsline with the zoom link. The zoom link will also be available on the srnpdx.org website. We’ll have some familiar faces sharing updates on community groups and introduce some new organizations in the neighborhood. See below for a list of topics and presenters.
SRN Business Meeting
New SRN President Suzanne Perra will share some business updates including voting on new board members, bylaws changes, and the annual treasurer’s report.
Northwest Trail Alliance / Rocky Point
NWTA is a Portland based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization made up of volunteers who advocate for access, build and maintain trails for mountain biking and recreational use. Paul Hobson, NWTA Vice President, will share some information about their organization and the 3,000 acre Rocky Point Recreation Area right in our neighborhood.
Ecology and Classrooms Outdoors (ECO) Skyline Property
ECO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving K-12 students in the Portland Metro Area, Eugene, and Central Coast. ECO inspires students to care for nature and their local communities through hands-on science education. Sarah Woods, Co-founder & Interim Executive Director, Julie Baweja, Program Director, Claire Baldwin, Development & Communications Manager, will tell us more about their organization and plans for a new 77-acre Skyline property generously donated by Rasmussen Family Trust.
Skyline Grange
The Skyline Grange has been operating since 1940 when local agriculturists met to support the needs of the community through activities, discussions, and social gatherings. The area has changed a lot since then, but it is still a rural-based community concerned with helping one another and supporting measures that keep us safe and promote a sense of community. Sen Speroff will share the latest events organized by the Skyline Grange and what to expect in the coming months.
Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET)
Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NETs) are Portland residents trained by PBEM and Portland Fire & Rescue to provide emergency disaster assistance within their own neighborhoods. Rachael Brake will provide some background and share some updates from our local NET team and the work they are doing to help our neighborhood prepare in case of emergency.
Skyline Internet Access
Reliable internet access has long been an issue for many residents in the area. The past year of work and school activities shifting online has been challenging for many in the area without reliable service. We’ve asked Oregon State Representative Brad Witt to join and share about what’s being done to improve internet access for all.
Gun Use in Our Area
MCSO Deputy David McGarry #39599 is our West Side Community Resource Officer. We’ve had some questions from the community about gun use laws so we’ve asked him to join and share details.
If you aren’t able to make the meeting, it will be recorded, and the zoom recording link will be posted to share on the SRN website (http://www.srnpdx.org/).
The days are getting longer, the spring bulbs are starting to bloom, and it’s time for the SRN Annual Spring Meeting. We won’t be ready to gather in person, but the SRN board didn’t want to miss the opportunity to share some news and updates with the community. We will hold the annual meeting virtually this year on Thursday, April 22, starting at 7 PM. There will be notifications sent on the Skyline Ridge Newsline with the zoom link. The zoom link will also be available on the srnpdx.org website. We’ll have some familiar faces sharing updates on community groups and introduce some new organizations in the neighborhood. See below for a list of topics and presenters.
SRN Business Meeting
New SRN President Suzanne Perra will share some business updates including voting on new board members, bylaws changes, and the annual treasurer’s report.
Northwest Trail Alliance / Rocky Point
NWTA is a Portland based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization made up of volunteers who advocate for access, build and maintain trails for mountain biking and recreational use. Paul Hobson, NWTA Vice President, will share some information about their organization and the 3,000 acre Rocky Point Recreation Area right in our neighborhood.
Ecology and Classrooms Outdoors (ECO) Skyline Property
ECO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving K-12 students in the Portland Metro Area, Eugene, and Central Coast. ECO inspires students to care for nature and their local communities through hands-on science education. Sarah Woods, Co-founder & Interim Executive Director, Julie Baweja, Program Director, Claire Baldwin, Development & Communications Manager, will tell us more about their organization and plans for a new 77-acre Skyline property generously donated by Rasmussen Family Trust.
Skyline Grange
The Skyline Grange has been operating since 1940 when local agriculturists met to support the needs of the community through activities, discussions, and social gatherings. The area has changed a lot since then, but it is still a rural-based community concerned with helping one another and supporting measures that keep us safe and promote a sense of community. Sen Speroff will share the latest events organized by the Skyline Grange and what to expect in the coming months.
Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET)
Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NETs) are Portland residents trained by PBEM and Portland Fire & Rescue to provide emergency disaster assistance within their own neighborhoods. Rachael Brake will provide some background and share some updates from our local NET team and the work they are doing to help our neighborhood prepare in case of emergency.
Skyline Internet Access
Reliable internet access has long been an issue for many residents in the area. The past year of work and school activities shifting online has been challenging for many in the area without reliable service. We’ve asked Oregon State Representative Brad Witt to join and share about what’s being done to improve internet access for all.
Gun Use in Our Area
MCSO Deputy David McGarry #39599 is our West Side Community Resource Officer. We’ve had some questions from the community about gun use laws so we’ve asked him to join and share details.
If you aren’t able to make the meeting, it will be recorded, and the zoom recording link will be posted to share on the SRN website (http://www.srnpdx.org/).
Help Beautify Our Roadways on the SOLVE Clean-up Day, April 17th
By Brad Graff
Walkers, bicyclists, residents and touring vehicles all enjoy Skyline Blvd with its fresh air, forest and farmland, and scenic vistas. SRN will once again host a SOLVE clean-up on Saturday, April 17 from 9 AM until noon. Please come join us to help collect litter along public roads in our neighborhood.
Registration
Register at the Skyline Grange (11275 NW Skyline Blvd,) between 8-10 AM to get SOLVE bags and a route assignment of your choosing. You can also pre-register online at https://www.solveoregon.org/opportunity/a0C1I00000QFMwC before getting your bags. Light refreshments will also be available at the registration table. Please have your filled bags ready for roadside pickup by noon.
Tires & Hazardous Materials
As we did in 2019, we are partnering with the Forest Park Neighborhood SOLVE event (https://www.solveoregon.org/opportunity/a0C1I00000QFH1UUAX). They are accepting tires and some hazardous materials. If you have tires and HazMat (batteries, paint, solvents), you can bring them to the collection site at the intersection of Germantown Rd and Skyline Blvd. between 11-2 PM.
Thank you for being a part of what makes our neighborhood such a special place to live!
Walkers, bicyclists, residents and touring vehicles all enjoy Skyline Blvd with its fresh air, forest and farmland, and scenic vistas. SRN will once again host a SOLVE clean-up on Saturday, April 17 from 9 AM until noon. Please come join us to help collect litter along public roads in our neighborhood.
Registration
Register at the Skyline Grange (11275 NW Skyline Blvd,) between 8-10 AM to get SOLVE bags and a route assignment of your choosing. You can also pre-register online at https://www.solveoregon.org/opportunity/a0C1I00000QFMwC before getting your bags. Light refreshments will also be available at the registration table. Please have your filled bags ready for roadside pickup by noon.
Tires & Hazardous Materials
As we did in 2019, we are partnering with the Forest Park Neighborhood SOLVE event (https://www.solveoregon.org/opportunity/a0C1I00000QFH1UUAX). They are accepting tires and some hazardous materials. If you have tires and HazMat (batteries, paint, solvents), you can bring them to the collection site at the intersection of Germantown Rd and Skyline Blvd. between 11-2 PM.
Thank you for being a part of what makes our neighborhood such a special place to live!
People of Skyline
Thank You, Laurel Erhardt
By Alex Rose
Skyline Ridge neighbors wish to thank Laurel Erhardt for her generous and tireless service as president of the Skyline Ridge Neighborhood Association. Laurel served as president of SRN from 2014 to 2020; and before that, she served eight years as treasurer, joining the board in 2006.
Fortunately, we are not going to lose Laurel! Her passion and dedication to serve our neighborhood – her cherished community – remain unflagging, as she will continue to manage the SRN Newsline, which is so vital in sending urgent, timely, and important messages to all of us.
Laurel became an ardent neighborhood supporter because it makes her happy when she can make other people happy. “When I walk Skyline Boulevard, I like to pick up trash because I know it will make someone’s drive along our beautiful road more pleasing, and I want to make a difference in the world and make a difference locally.”
“Doing community service,” Laurel says, “I’ve valued getting to know all the different neighbors up here and their unique and diverse perspectives. Skyline Boulevard is awash with distinctive, wonderful types of people, great people, and it gives hope to the whole world!”
Bravo, Laurel! It’s caring neighbors like yourself who build strength in a community.
Skyline Ridge neighbors wish to thank Laurel Erhardt for her generous and tireless service as president of the Skyline Ridge Neighborhood Association. Laurel served as president of SRN from 2014 to 2020; and before that, she served eight years as treasurer, joining the board in 2006.
Fortunately, we are not going to lose Laurel! Her passion and dedication to serve our neighborhood – her cherished community – remain unflagging, as she will continue to manage the SRN Newsline, which is so vital in sending urgent, timely, and important messages to all of us.
Laurel became an ardent neighborhood supporter because it makes her happy when she can make other people happy. “When I walk Skyline Boulevard, I like to pick up trash because I know it will make someone’s drive along our beautiful road more pleasing, and I want to make a difference in the world and make a difference locally.”
“Doing community service,” Laurel says, “I’ve valued getting to know all the different neighbors up here and their unique and diverse perspectives. Skyline Boulevard is awash with distinctive, wonderful types of people, great people, and it gives hope to the whole world!”
Bravo, Laurel! It’s caring neighbors like yourself who build strength in a community.
William 'Dennis' Miller
By Anna Nolen
The Miller family were longtime residents in the Skyline/Hill area. Dennis' family moved onto Skyline Blvd. between McNamee and Germantown Rd. around 1967 when Dennis was about 5 years old. Around 1970 they moved onto Cornelius Pass Rd. for about a year, before settling on Rock Creek Rd. in 1971. Dennis and family remained on Rock Creek Rd. until around 1980.
Dennis attended Skyline School through 5th grade, then attended Holbrook Middle School at Cornelius Pass Rd. and Hwy 30 (now NARA) from the 6-8th grades. He attended Lincoln High School and finished at an alternative Portland school. Dennis was a Cub Scout and Webelo, then went to Outward Bound, which was certainly a precursor to his passion for fishing and the outdoors. Dennis' mother, Anna (Miller) Nolen, and sister Corina (Miller) Bordon remained in the Skyline area until around 1982. Many may remember Anna as working at Plainview Grocery for many years.
Dennis' official obituary can be found at: https://www.lagrandeobserver.com/obituaries/, under William Dennis Miller.
The Miller family were longtime residents in the Skyline/Hill area. Dennis' family moved onto Skyline Blvd. between McNamee and Germantown Rd. around 1967 when Dennis was about 5 years old. Around 1970 they moved onto Cornelius Pass Rd. for about a year, before settling on Rock Creek Rd. in 1971. Dennis and family remained on Rock Creek Rd. until around 1980.
Dennis attended Skyline School through 5th grade, then attended Holbrook Middle School at Cornelius Pass Rd. and Hwy 30 (now NARA) from the 6-8th grades. He attended Lincoln High School and finished at an alternative Portland school. Dennis was a Cub Scout and Webelo, then went to Outward Bound, which was certainly a precursor to his passion for fishing and the outdoors. Dennis' mother, Anna (Miller) Nolen, and sister Corina (Miller) Bordon remained in the Skyline area until around 1982. Many may remember Anna as working at Plainview Grocery for many years.
Dennis' official obituary can be found at: https://www.lagrandeobserver.com/obituaries/, under William Dennis Miller.
Public Service
ODOT Assumes Jurisdiction of Cornelius Pass Highway / OR 127
By Miles Merwin
As approved by the State Legislature in 2017, jurisdiction over Cornelius Pass Road between Highways 26 and 30 transferred from Multnomah and Washington Counties to the Oregon Dept. of Transportation (ODOT), effective March 1. Besides giving Corn Pass a new name and number (OR 127), ODOT will now be in charge of road maintenance, incident response, and the planning and delivery of future improvement projects. There are some maintenance projects scheduled from now to June.
To find out more about how this will affect Skyline area residents who use Corn Pass every day, the Ridge Runner interviewed Hope Estes, ODOT Community Affairs Coordinator. Her responses to our questions appear below.
Now that ODOT is responsible for maintaining the road, how can the public contact ODOT to report a concern about road maintenance? Where is the closest depot?
The public can report a concern about road maintenance through Ask ODOT (https://www.oregon.gov/odot/pages/ask-odot.aspx). You can email Ask.ODOT@odot.state.or.us or call 1-888-ASK-ODOT (1-888-275-6368). In general, the North Portland Maintenance section will respond to maintenance issues on the Multnomah County side of OR 127 and the Sylvan section will respond on the Washington County side. We are also in the planning process to build a new stockpile site on a piece of state land near the intersection of Cornelius Pass Road and Skyline Boulevard. This multipurpose site will store materials such as sand and de-icer to support maintenance operations year-round.
How will ODOT respond to vehicle crashes & other incidents? What about Hazmat spills?
ODOT Maintenance will respond to crashes and other incidents (including hazmat spills). Law enforcement will respond to emergencies. As always, please call 9-1-1 to report emergencies. To report debris in the roadway, call ODOT’s Region 1 dispatch center at 503-283-5859. For other things, please contact Ask ODOT at Ask.ODOT@odot.state.or.us.
If there is a closure required, how will ODOT notify the public? Can people subscribe to an email list or Twitter feed?
For planned and unplanned closures, including winter weather events, up-to-date information is available on www.tripcheck.com. TripCheck is working to include OR 127/Cornelius Pass Highway alerts on the TripCheck on Twitter (https://tripcheck.com/Pages/TripCheck-On-Twitter) feed for the Portland area. You can subscribe to notifications from that feed on Twitter to get road alerts for the whole Portland area.
Is there the possibility of locating a traffic camera at the Skyline intersection or somewhere else along the section of the road governed by ODOT?
Cameras are one of the tools we use to monitor traffic. As we observe the operation of this new highway, we will evaluate for new monitoring equipment.
While there are no currently planned construction projects for 2021-24, when would planning start for projects to commence thereafter? Any discussions yet on what the next priorities for improvement might be, e.g. a traffic signal at the Skyline intersection?
To learn more about how we fund projects through the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and stay up to date with STIP news including the 2024-2027 STIP that the Oregon Transportation Commission is working on now, visit https://www.oregon.gov/odot/STIP/Pages/index.aspx.
Separate from the STIP, we do have a couple maintenance projects in the works for OR127/Cornelius Pass Road:
How can the public have input during the planning process for improvements to the road? Could there be a citizens advisory group or local public meetings, as was the case for the recent projects conducted by Multnomah Co.?
There are no current plans under development for OR 127, but if we do begin a planning process for the corridor down the line, ODOT will engage with the surrounding communities through things like advisory committees and workshops like we do for other projects and corridors. If there are Cornelius Pass Road projects in a future STIP cycle, the public can be involved during the development of that project list as well. As mentioned above, you can stay up to date on STIP news by visiting https://www.oregon.gov/odot/STIP/Pages/index.aspx. We will also share information with the community surrounding Cornelius Pass Road during the design and construction phases of any future projects.
Given that truck and car traffic is projected to increase, and that it’s a Hazmat route, what are ODOT’s long term plans for Cornelius Pass?
Currently, we are focused on solving maintenance and operational issues with things like the paving, signing and striping work described above. At this time there are no long-term planning efforts for improvements to Cornelius Pass Highway. However, as future west-side long-term planning efforts kick off, this roadway will be included.
As approved by the State Legislature in 2017, jurisdiction over Cornelius Pass Road between Highways 26 and 30 transferred from Multnomah and Washington Counties to the Oregon Dept. of Transportation (ODOT), effective March 1. Besides giving Corn Pass a new name and number (OR 127), ODOT will now be in charge of road maintenance, incident response, and the planning and delivery of future improvement projects. There are some maintenance projects scheduled from now to June.
To find out more about how this will affect Skyline area residents who use Corn Pass every day, the Ridge Runner interviewed Hope Estes, ODOT Community Affairs Coordinator. Her responses to our questions appear below.
Now that ODOT is responsible for maintaining the road, how can the public contact ODOT to report a concern about road maintenance? Where is the closest depot?
The public can report a concern about road maintenance through Ask ODOT (https://www.oregon.gov/odot/pages/ask-odot.aspx). You can email Ask.ODOT@odot.state.or.us or call 1-888-ASK-ODOT (1-888-275-6368). In general, the North Portland Maintenance section will respond to maintenance issues on the Multnomah County side of OR 127 and the Sylvan section will respond on the Washington County side. We are also in the planning process to build a new stockpile site on a piece of state land near the intersection of Cornelius Pass Road and Skyline Boulevard. This multipurpose site will store materials such as sand and de-icer to support maintenance operations year-round.
How will ODOT respond to vehicle crashes & other incidents? What about Hazmat spills?
ODOT Maintenance will respond to crashes and other incidents (including hazmat spills). Law enforcement will respond to emergencies. As always, please call 9-1-1 to report emergencies. To report debris in the roadway, call ODOT’s Region 1 dispatch center at 503-283-5859. For other things, please contact Ask ODOT at Ask.ODOT@odot.state.or.us.
If there is a closure required, how will ODOT notify the public? Can people subscribe to an email list or Twitter feed?
For planned and unplanned closures, including winter weather events, up-to-date information is available on www.tripcheck.com. TripCheck is working to include OR 127/Cornelius Pass Highway alerts on the TripCheck on Twitter (https://tripcheck.com/Pages/TripCheck-On-Twitter) feed for the Portland area. You can subscribe to notifications from that feed on Twitter to get road alerts for the whole Portland area.
Is there the possibility of locating a traffic camera at the Skyline intersection or somewhere else along the section of the road governed by ODOT?
Cameras are one of the tools we use to monitor traffic. As we observe the operation of this new highway, we will evaluate for new monitoring equipment.
While there are no currently planned construction projects for 2021-24, when would planning start for projects to commence thereafter? Any discussions yet on what the next priorities for improvement might be, e.g. a traffic signal at the Skyline intersection?
To learn more about how we fund projects through the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and stay up to date with STIP news including the 2024-2027 STIP that the Oregon Transportation Commission is working on now, visit https://www.oregon.gov/odot/STIP/Pages/index.aspx.
Separate from the STIP, we do have a couple maintenance projects in the works for OR127/Cornelius Pass Road:
- Paving Cornelius Pass Road from U.S. 30 to Skyline Boulevard in 2021, excluding some areas recently paved by Multnomah County. Work will take place at night sometime between late March and late June.
- Updating the striping and lane markers between Skyline Boulevard and West Union Road sometime between May and late June 2021.
- Collaborating with Washington County and Multnomah County on an Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) on Cornelius Pass Road. The proposed work includes variable message signs near U.S. 26, curve warning systems, and weather stations along the corridor between TV Highway (OR 8) and U.S. 30. We’re still in early design, but we expect construction to start in early 2022.
How can the public have input during the planning process for improvements to the road? Could there be a citizens advisory group or local public meetings, as was the case for the recent projects conducted by Multnomah Co.?
There are no current plans under development for OR 127, but if we do begin a planning process for the corridor down the line, ODOT will engage with the surrounding communities through things like advisory committees and workshops like we do for other projects and corridors. If there are Cornelius Pass Road projects in a future STIP cycle, the public can be involved during the development of that project list as well. As mentioned above, you can stay up to date on STIP news by visiting https://www.oregon.gov/odot/STIP/Pages/index.aspx. We will also share information with the community surrounding Cornelius Pass Road during the design and construction phases of any future projects.
Given that truck and car traffic is projected to increase, and that it’s a Hazmat route, what are ODOT’s long term plans for Cornelius Pass?
Currently, we are focused on solving maintenance and operational issues with things like the paving, signing and striping work described above. At this time there are no long-term planning efforts for improvements to Cornelius Pass Highway. However, as future west-side long-term planning efforts kick off, this roadway will be included.
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Public Service
Skyline NET Invites You to Get Involved
By Sen Speroff
Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NETs) are Portland residents trained by Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) and Portland Fire & Rescue (PFR) to provide emergency disaster assistance within their own neighborhoods. Our Skyline Ridge NET team of 30+ trained volunteers cover the area within SRN and much of Forest Park Neighborhood Association’s (FPNA) northwest area. At this time, meetings and training are still being held via Zoom only.
Become Involved Our NET
As a trained NET Member, you can take most of the Basic CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) lecture training online for free through the University of Utah: at www.onlinecert.org. If you get certified through that program, PBEM will honor the units and you will only need to complete its hands-on training and a final field exercise when they are scheduled again locally. You also can wait and take PBEM’s 30-hour NET training locally when it safely resumes to become a certified NET Team member.
Another way to get involved is as an Amateur NET Radio Operator. AROs are vital in an emergency, especially with walkie-talkie communication limited in our steep, vegetated terrain. For further details log onto www.portlandoregon.gov/pbem/31667.
Deployment Exercises Planned
Last December, our NET team participated in an on- line Citywide Deployment Exercise (CDE). Although it was a worthwhile exercise, there are challenges that City NET teams don’t face and the CDE did not address, name- ly the large service area with steep terrain and miles be- tween NET team members and to our equipment caches We are developing a series of our own exercises to give us some insight in dealing with these challenges.
Firewise Program
Our NET team in coordination with Portland Fire & Rescue (PFR), Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R), Forest Park Neighborhood (FPNA), Skyline Grange, and Skyline Ridge Neighbors (SRN) encourages local residents to be prepared for a wildfire event through the establishment of Firewise neighborhoods. There is a national Firewise USA® Program that provides a collaborative framework to help neighbors in a geographic area get organized, find direction, and take action to increase the ignition resistance of their homes and community and to reduce wildfire risks at the local level. For details, log onto www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firewise-USA.
Get a Wildfire Risk Assessment of Your Property
As a free service, PFR or TVF&R will assess and provide recommendations to make your property more defensible against wildfire. These assessments focus attention on the home and provide recommendations on ways to eliminate a fire’s potential relationship with the house. Sign up at https://www.portland.gov/fire/your-safety/wildland-urban-interface-wui-home-assessment. Numerous local residents have already received this service and found it very informative, giving them practical recommendations specific to their property. It’s nonbinding and free to those within the boundaries of PFR and TVFR.
Landscape with Fire Resistant Plants
Here are two local resources for Information about plants that don’t readily ignite from a flame. They are not “fireproof” but they are safer because they will not add greater fuel to a fire. West Multnomah Soil & Water compiled a list at www.wmswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Fire-resistant-plants-for-western-Multnomah-County.pdf. Also download OSU Extension’s “Fire Resistant Plants for Home Landscapes” at https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/pnw590.
Have a Go Bag
In an emergency, you may not have time to collect needed items and you might be too flustered to logically grab what you will need in the next several days. Prepare a “Go Bag” and always have it ready to grab if you need to evacuate your home quickly. For a list of essentials for your Go Bag, download http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2021-02/ready_checklist.pdf. Don’t forget items of sentimental value as well; keep those gathered in fire season so they can easily be added to your evacuation materials.
Create a Wildfire Action Plan
Talk to members of your household and with neighbors. Have a phone contact and a meeting place outside of your community. Consider needs of pets, livestock, children, and any special considerations when planning.
Sign Up for Emergency Notifications
In the advent of an emergency, you can be notified by text, email or voice message. Register at https://www.publicalerts.org/signup. ShakeAlert is an earthquake warning system that went into effect in late March. It works through the wireless emergency notification network. No additional signup is required. For more information, log onto https://www.shakealert.org.
Contact Us
NETS are here to support the community. Questions? Email Skyline Ridge NET at SkylineRidgeNET@gmail.com or contact Rachael Brake, Team Leader, at 503-621-3423.
Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NETs) are Portland residents trained by Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) and Portland Fire & Rescue (PFR) to provide emergency disaster assistance within their own neighborhoods. Our Skyline Ridge NET team of 30+ trained volunteers cover the area within SRN and much of Forest Park Neighborhood Association’s (FPNA) northwest area. At this time, meetings and training are still being held via Zoom only.
Become Involved Our NET
As a trained NET Member, you can take most of the Basic CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) lecture training online for free through the University of Utah: at www.onlinecert.org. If you get certified through that program, PBEM will honor the units and you will only need to complete its hands-on training and a final field exercise when they are scheduled again locally. You also can wait and take PBEM’s 30-hour NET training locally when it safely resumes to become a certified NET Team member.
Another way to get involved is as an Amateur NET Radio Operator. AROs are vital in an emergency, especially with walkie-talkie communication limited in our steep, vegetated terrain. For further details log onto www.portlandoregon.gov/pbem/31667.
Deployment Exercises Planned
Last December, our NET team participated in an on- line Citywide Deployment Exercise (CDE). Although it was a worthwhile exercise, there are challenges that City NET teams don’t face and the CDE did not address, name- ly the large service area with steep terrain and miles be- tween NET team members and to our equipment caches We are developing a series of our own exercises to give us some insight in dealing with these challenges.
Firewise Program
Our NET team in coordination with Portland Fire & Rescue (PFR), Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R), Forest Park Neighborhood (FPNA), Skyline Grange, and Skyline Ridge Neighbors (SRN) encourages local residents to be prepared for a wildfire event through the establishment of Firewise neighborhoods. There is a national Firewise USA® Program that provides a collaborative framework to help neighbors in a geographic area get organized, find direction, and take action to increase the ignition resistance of their homes and community and to reduce wildfire risks at the local level. For details, log onto www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firewise-USA.
Get a Wildfire Risk Assessment of Your Property
As a free service, PFR or TVF&R will assess and provide recommendations to make your property more defensible against wildfire. These assessments focus attention on the home and provide recommendations on ways to eliminate a fire’s potential relationship with the house. Sign up at https://www.portland.gov/fire/your-safety/wildland-urban-interface-wui-home-assessment. Numerous local residents have already received this service and found it very informative, giving them practical recommendations specific to their property. It’s nonbinding and free to those within the boundaries of PFR and TVFR.
Landscape with Fire Resistant Plants
Here are two local resources for Information about plants that don’t readily ignite from a flame. They are not “fireproof” but they are safer because they will not add greater fuel to a fire. West Multnomah Soil & Water compiled a list at www.wmswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Fire-resistant-plants-for-western-Multnomah-County.pdf. Also download OSU Extension’s “Fire Resistant Plants for Home Landscapes” at https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/pnw590.
Have a Go Bag
In an emergency, you may not have time to collect needed items and you might be too flustered to logically grab what you will need in the next several days. Prepare a “Go Bag” and always have it ready to grab if you need to evacuate your home quickly. For a list of essentials for your Go Bag, download http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2021-02/ready_checklist.pdf. Don’t forget items of sentimental value as well; keep those gathered in fire season so they can easily be added to your evacuation materials.
Create a Wildfire Action Plan
Talk to members of your household and with neighbors. Have a phone contact and a meeting place outside of your community. Consider needs of pets, livestock, children, and any special considerations when planning.
Sign Up for Emergency Notifications
In the advent of an emergency, you can be notified by text, email or voice message. Register at https://www.publicalerts.org/signup. ShakeAlert is an earthquake warning system that went into effect in late March. It works through the wireless emergency notification network. No additional signup is required. For more information, log onto https://www.shakealert.org.
Contact Us
NETS are here to support the community. Questions? Email Skyline Ridge NET at SkylineRidgeNET@gmail.com or contact Rachael Brake, Team Leader, at 503-621-3423.
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Life on the Hill
Pandemic Plot
By Kim Johnson
I never thought garden design would be influenced by toilet paper but, as they say, “here we are.” The pandemic of 2020 had people doing all manner of unusual things and when I laid out my vegetable garden early that spring, I was no exception. Hundreds. I did everything in hundreds. Based on the insanity of 2020 it seemed...reasonable. One hundred seed potatoes. One hundred onions. One hundred beets. Don’t get me started on the tomatoes.
The toilet paper crisis had left me thinking about heirloom tomatoes. Toilet paper I could do without, tomatoes not so much. So much of summer relies on tomatoes. Things like BLT’s, marinated cherry tomato salad, tomato sandwich, beautiful sliced Pineapple and Cherokee Purples adorned with sea salt and rainbow cracked pepper all segued into marinara and puttanesca, simmering pots of chili, paste tomatoes giving rise to steaming pots of osso buco. One could argue the entire calendar year relies on tomatoes. The thought of missing out on any of these things was, at its core, soul crushing. I vowed to plant one hundred heirloom tomatoes.
I’d already attracted some local attention, via social media and by word of my big mouth, as the lady who turned a horse-riding arena into a vegetable plot; a ten thousand square foot vegetable plot. I was not deterred by the horse community outrage-how could I do such a thing and where would I ride my horse-or the negative nellies who asked annoying but pertinent questions like, “what will you do with all that produce?” Excessive produce was not my concern. A lack of meaty slicers to accommodate fresh mayonnaise and thick slices of white bread was. And so I pressed on.
I brought in topsoil, beautiful loads of crumbly, dark brown compost that smelled of earth and nothing else. People in my household complained about the amount of big trucks delivering “dirt.” So I bought a trailer. People in my household complained about the time I spent hauling loads of crumbly, dark brown compost that smelled of earth and nothing else. Did I mention how crumbly it was? So I moved manure. Loads of manure. I topped the manure with compost and began what will certainly go down as a memorable spring, planting one hundred of everything I could get my gardening gloved hands on.
The shortages of 2020 weren’t limited to bathroom products and hand sanitizer. Obtaining seeds became difficult; however, I had succumbed to the same keep busy activities as everyone else and was delighted to find partial packets of old seed during my cleaning and organizing phase. People in my household pointed out that some of the seed packets were expired, but not to dissuade me, pointed out that the cleaning and organizing was good. I was not dissuaded. What’s a few years on a seed? Nothing but patina in my mind. I pressed on.
One hundred beet seeds went in the ground. Over one hundred tomato seeds were started on various windowsills, tabletops and greenhouses. Due to a labeling snafu, no fewer than twenty of these seeds were simply categorized as “big.” Trellises were erected. Stakes were pounded. Zip ties were zipped. Within a matter of weeks, potatoes were sprouting and onion tops lengthening. Germinating beets, immediately consumed by birds, were reseeded. The pandemic plot thickened.
By late spring/early summer my one hundred of this and that did not seem so crazy. People offered to hunker in my bunker. Comments appeared on social media. We know where to go for the apocalypse! No one questioned what I would do with all the produce, I wouldn’t be going to the store and that’s what really mattered.
By mid-summer I grew weary of tying things to trellises. There was flopping. Tomatoes previously labeled as “big” took over entire pathways. Mystery squash appeared and flourished between rows. In the end the final tomato plant headcount was at one hundred and thirty. Trying to find all of them was a challenge. Tomatoes were picked, plucked, cooked, marinated, canned, frozen, reduced and most importantly seeds were saved. Over the steam of my osso buco I was already preparing for the next season, the pandemic plot is here to stay.
I never thought garden design would be influenced by toilet paper but, as they say, “here we are.” The pandemic of 2020 had people doing all manner of unusual things and when I laid out my vegetable garden early that spring, I was no exception. Hundreds. I did everything in hundreds. Based on the insanity of 2020 it seemed...reasonable. One hundred seed potatoes. One hundred onions. One hundred beets. Don’t get me started on the tomatoes.
The toilet paper crisis had left me thinking about heirloom tomatoes. Toilet paper I could do without, tomatoes not so much. So much of summer relies on tomatoes. Things like BLT’s, marinated cherry tomato salad, tomato sandwich, beautiful sliced Pineapple and Cherokee Purples adorned with sea salt and rainbow cracked pepper all segued into marinara and puttanesca, simmering pots of chili, paste tomatoes giving rise to steaming pots of osso buco. One could argue the entire calendar year relies on tomatoes. The thought of missing out on any of these things was, at its core, soul crushing. I vowed to plant one hundred heirloom tomatoes.
I’d already attracted some local attention, via social media and by word of my big mouth, as the lady who turned a horse-riding arena into a vegetable plot; a ten thousand square foot vegetable plot. I was not deterred by the horse community outrage-how could I do such a thing and where would I ride my horse-or the negative nellies who asked annoying but pertinent questions like, “what will you do with all that produce?” Excessive produce was not my concern. A lack of meaty slicers to accommodate fresh mayonnaise and thick slices of white bread was. And so I pressed on.
I brought in topsoil, beautiful loads of crumbly, dark brown compost that smelled of earth and nothing else. People in my household complained about the amount of big trucks delivering “dirt.” So I bought a trailer. People in my household complained about the time I spent hauling loads of crumbly, dark brown compost that smelled of earth and nothing else. Did I mention how crumbly it was? So I moved manure. Loads of manure. I topped the manure with compost and began what will certainly go down as a memorable spring, planting one hundred of everything I could get my gardening gloved hands on.
The shortages of 2020 weren’t limited to bathroom products and hand sanitizer. Obtaining seeds became difficult; however, I had succumbed to the same keep busy activities as everyone else and was delighted to find partial packets of old seed during my cleaning and organizing phase. People in my household pointed out that some of the seed packets were expired, but not to dissuade me, pointed out that the cleaning and organizing was good. I was not dissuaded. What’s a few years on a seed? Nothing but patina in my mind. I pressed on.
One hundred beet seeds went in the ground. Over one hundred tomato seeds were started on various windowsills, tabletops and greenhouses. Due to a labeling snafu, no fewer than twenty of these seeds were simply categorized as “big.” Trellises were erected. Stakes were pounded. Zip ties were zipped. Within a matter of weeks, potatoes were sprouting and onion tops lengthening. Germinating beets, immediately consumed by birds, were reseeded. The pandemic plot thickened.
By late spring/early summer my one hundred of this and that did not seem so crazy. People offered to hunker in my bunker. Comments appeared on social media. We know where to go for the apocalypse! No one questioned what I would do with all the produce, I wouldn’t be going to the store and that’s what really mattered.
By mid-summer I grew weary of tying things to trellises. There was flopping. Tomatoes previously labeled as “big” took over entire pathways. Mystery squash appeared and flourished between rows. In the end the final tomato plant headcount was at one hundred and thirty. Trying to find all of them was a challenge. Tomatoes were picked, plucked, cooked, marinated, canned, frozen, reduced and most importantly seeds were saved. Over the steam of my osso buco I was already preparing for the next season, the pandemic plot is here to stay.
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Local Businesses
Commercial Beekeeping Thrives on Skyline Ridge
By Laura O. Foster, NW McNamee Road
A schoolteacher’s hobby almost 50 years ago is today a three-generation Skyline family business that provides commercial pollination in two states, retails honey and beeswax candles, wholesales honey to mead brewers, and collaborates with Oregon State University on entomological research.
In 1973, newly married Mark and Sue Johnson were living on McNamee Road when he started keeping bees as a hobby. Mark taught high school in Scappoose and Sue worked at Freightliner. After their first child, Erin, was born, Mark looked to his beekeeping hobby as a means to supplement the family income. His growing side-hustle fit the bill nicely. Decades later, in 2002 when he retired from teaching, he doubled the number of hives. Today, about 70 percent of their beekeeping revenue comes from pollination, with 30 percent from sales of honey and candles.
All of Mark and Sue’s four children work in the business. Erin oversees its finances and online presence. Ben is head manager at QFC in Bethany, and partners in managing a few hundred hives with his brother Jonathan, a former teacher in the Evergreen School District. He now works full time in the bee business, with occasional substitute teaching at Skyline School. The youngest, Isaiah, who works at QFC on East Burnside, assists in loading for honey deliveries. Some of the ten grandchildren keep their own hives and all help out with sales and operations.
The pollination year
The pollination year starts for the Johnsons in January, when Mark and Jonathan haul bees to California’s San Joaquin Valley for three weeks during almond pollination. “It’s the largest single pollination in the world,” says Mark.
They return to Oregon and next up are spring-flowering crops: pears, cherries, blueberries, meadowfoam and cane berries; the Johnsons pollinate crops within a 50 to 100-mile radius of Portland. Many of the crops the bees pollinate are grown for seed: in the Willamette Valley, turnips bloom in April, and radishes in May and June. In July it’s on to Central Oregon to pollinate carrots grown for seed. The bees also pollinate white and red clover fields from Eugene to Sauvie Island. Pollination draws to a close at summer’s end, with more crops grown for seed: lettuce, cucumber, pumpkin and squash.
“By August, we start getting the bees ready for January pollination,” Mark says. It’s also time when some of the family’s 1,700 hives are moved off the family’s McNamee Road properties to other sites, to ensure the bees have plenty of pollen sources. Mark is always on the lookout for sunny sites to set a minimum of 40 hives; sites need road access so he can drive in. Contact him if you’re interested in hosting honeybees on your land.
Honey and candle sales
“Our niche is specialty honey,” says Sue, i.e., those with distinct flavors such as meadowfoam (“a marshmallow and vanilla flavor”), chicory, clover, or carrot.
Mark says, “We take the honey right off the hives when the bloom ends,” so, as far as one can guarantee bees have only been working a single crop, this immediate harvest helps ensure the provenance of their honey types. “In an 800-acre field of meadowfoam,” he says, “you can be fairly sure the bees haven’t strayed too far for pollen and nectar.” (Meadowfoam seed was developed at OSU as a rotation crop for Linn and Lane county grass seed growers. The seed’s oil is used in the cosmetic industry.)
Most of the honey harvested comes from spring and early summer pollination. Almonds—the year’s first crop—don’t produce excess honey, and honey from pumpkin and squash—the last crops pollinated—is left in the hives for the bees’ winter food. “It’s also darker,” Sue says of the squash honey, “and Americans in general prefer lighter honey.”
Besides selling honey at local markets, the Johnsons sell to Heidrun Meadery in Point Reyes Station, California, which produces Oregon radish, Madras carrot and meadowfoam meads.
Honey extraction ends in September. In fall and winter Sue and her assistants rebuild the candle inventory. She and Mark used to take Scappoose High students to Germany on cultural exchanges, and it was there she got unique silicon molds, which have transformed the candle-making process.
Research and challenges
“We’re constantly rebuilding the operation,” Mark says. The 1989 arrival of the Varroa mite in Oregon changed beekeeping dramatically. “We had a 90 percent loss that first year,” he says. “When I started, I’d have about a 5 percent loss each year.” The mites cause what is now known as colony collapse disorder. “This is a major problem,” Mark says. “You used to be able to take a relaxed attitude toward beekeeping, but now the hive will be dead if you don’t recognize disease and parasites and know how to treat them.”
Even with that knowledge, Erin notes the average annual loss for commercial beekeepers in the U.S. is 30 percent. Not many businesses have to contend with that sort of attrition.
And then there was the bear. In 2017, a 275-pound female black bear found the Johnsons’ hives. She returned four nights, hauling 150-pound hives down the hill. She was live-trapped by ODFW and removed.
The Johnsons collaborate with Dr. Ramesh Sagile, at OSU’s Honey Bee Lab. There, researchers study the nutritional values of honey produced by various commercial crops as well as the patterns of mites in Oregon. Mark says, “Pollen is bees’ protein and honey is their carbohydrates.” The lab analyzes their nutritional roles in various crops, vis-à-vis colony collapse disorder.
Find honey and candles
Find Nature’s Best Oregon Honey on Facebook or at honebez@gmail.com. Buy honey year-round at Linnton Feed and Seed and Plainview Grocery; and seasonally at Sauvie Island markets, such as the Pumpkin Patch, which has sold the Johnsons’ honey for over 35 years. Visit with Sue at the Hollywood Farmers Market in Northeast Portland, where she and her children and grandchildren have been selling beeswax candles and honey for 22 years.
A schoolteacher’s hobby almost 50 years ago is today a three-generation Skyline family business that provides commercial pollination in two states, retails honey and beeswax candles, wholesales honey to mead brewers, and collaborates with Oregon State University on entomological research.
In 1973, newly married Mark and Sue Johnson were living on McNamee Road when he started keeping bees as a hobby. Mark taught high school in Scappoose and Sue worked at Freightliner. After their first child, Erin, was born, Mark looked to his beekeeping hobby as a means to supplement the family income. His growing side-hustle fit the bill nicely. Decades later, in 2002 when he retired from teaching, he doubled the number of hives. Today, about 70 percent of their beekeeping revenue comes from pollination, with 30 percent from sales of honey and candles.
All of Mark and Sue’s four children work in the business. Erin oversees its finances and online presence. Ben is head manager at QFC in Bethany, and partners in managing a few hundred hives with his brother Jonathan, a former teacher in the Evergreen School District. He now works full time in the bee business, with occasional substitute teaching at Skyline School. The youngest, Isaiah, who works at QFC on East Burnside, assists in loading for honey deliveries. Some of the ten grandchildren keep their own hives and all help out with sales and operations.
The pollination year
The pollination year starts for the Johnsons in January, when Mark and Jonathan haul bees to California’s San Joaquin Valley for three weeks during almond pollination. “It’s the largest single pollination in the world,” says Mark.
They return to Oregon and next up are spring-flowering crops: pears, cherries, blueberries, meadowfoam and cane berries; the Johnsons pollinate crops within a 50 to 100-mile radius of Portland. Many of the crops the bees pollinate are grown for seed: in the Willamette Valley, turnips bloom in April, and radishes in May and June. In July it’s on to Central Oregon to pollinate carrots grown for seed. The bees also pollinate white and red clover fields from Eugene to Sauvie Island. Pollination draws to a close at summer’s end, with more crops grown for seed: lettuce, cucumber, pumpkin and squash.
“By August, we start getting the bees ready for January pollination,” Mark says. It’s also time when some of the family’s 1,700 hives are moved off the family’s McNamee Road properties to other sites, to ensure the bees have plenty of pollen sources. Mark is always on the lookout for sunny sites to set a minimum of 40 hives; sites need road access so he can drive in. Contact him if you’re interested in hosting honeybees on your land.
Honey and candle sales
“Our niche is specialty honey,” says Sue, i.e., those with distinct flavors such as meadowfoam (“a marshmallow and vanilla flavor”), chicory, clover, or carrot.
Mark says, “We take the honey right off the hives when the bloom ends,” so, as far as one can guarantee bees have only been working a single crop, this immediate harvest helps ensure the provenance of their honey types. “In an 800-acre field of meadowfoam,” he says, “you can be fairly sure the bees haven’t strayed too far for pollen and nectar.” (Meadowfoam seed was developed at OSU as a rotation crop for Linn and Lane county grass seed growers. The seed’s oil is used in the cosmetic industry.)
Most of the honey harvested comes from spring and early summer pollination. Almonds—the year’s first crop—don’t produce excess honey, and honey from pumpkin and squash—the last crops pollinated—is left in the hives for the bees’ winter food. “It’s also darker,” Sue says of the squash honey, “and Americans in general prefer lighter honey.”
Besides selling honey at local markets, the Johnsons sell to Heidrun Meadery in Point Reyes Station, California, which produces Oregon radish, Madras carrot and meadowfoam meads.
Honey extraction ends in September. In fall and winter Sue and her assistants rebuild the candle inventory. She and Mark used to take Scappoose High students to Germany on cultural exchanges, and it was there she got unique silicon molds, which have transformed the candle-making process.
Research and challenges
“We’re constantly rebuilding the operation,” Mark says. The 1989 arrival of the Varroa mite in Oregon changed beekeeping dramatically. “We had a 90 percent loss that first year,” he says. “When I started, I’d have about a 5 percent loss each year.” The mites cause what is now known as colony collapse disorder. “This is a major problem,” Mark says. “You used to be able to take a relaxed attitude toward beekeeping, but now the hive will be dead if you don’t recognize disease and parasites and know how to treat them.”
Even with that knowledge, Erin notes the average annual loss for commercial beekeepers in the U.S. is 30 percent. Not many businesses have to contend with that sort of attrition.
And then there was the bear. In 2017, a 275-pound female black bear found the Johnsons’ hives. She returned four nights, hauling 150-pound hives down the hill. She was live-trapped by ODFW and removed.
The Johnsons collaborate with Dr. Ramesh Sagile, at OSU’s Honey Bee Lab. There, researchers study the nutritional values of honey produced by various commercial crops as well as the patterns of mites in Oregon. Mark says, “Pollen is bees’ protein and honey is their carbohydrates.” The lab analyzes their nutritional roles in various crops, vis-à-vis colony collapse disorder.
Find honey and candles
Find Nature’s Best Oregon Honey on Facebook or at honebez@gmail.com. Buy honey year-round at Linnton Feed and Seed and Plainview Grocery; and seasonally at Sauvie Island markets, such as the Pumpkin Patch, which has sold the Johnsons’ honey for over 35 years. Visit with Sue at the Hollywood Farmers Market in Northeast Portland, where she and her children and grandchildren have been selling beeswax candles and honey for 22 years.
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Public Service
TVF&R Will Hire Paramedics and Firefighters to Join its Ranks
By Christina Lent, TVF&R
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue is preparing to begin selection and hiring processes in the coming months for both entry-level paramedics and firefighters.
The fire service could be the ideal career choice for those interested in helping others, being part of a dynamic team, and serving a diverse community.
To help potential applicants, the District launched a “Steps to Prepare” page on www.tvfr.com that provides resources and information about what individuals can do to learn more, prepare, and apply. It also includes job descriptions and requirements.
TVF&R is hosting a Facebook/Instagram live informational meeting on both social media platforms Thursday, April 15, at 6 p.m. that will provide insight on what it takes to become a firefighter. Those interested in exploring a career as a firefighter are encouraged to attend and follow TVF&R on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for recruitment updates and event reminders.
A virtual paramedic informational meeting was held in March. The event was recorded, and a link is available for those unable to attend.
There’s never been a better time to consider a career in the fire service. To learn more about joining TVF&R’s team of first responders, visit www.tvfr.com/412/Steps-to-Prepare.
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue is preparing to begin selection and hiring processes in the coming months for both entry-level paramedics and firefighters.
The fire service could be the ideal career choice for those interested in helping others, being part of a dynamic team, and serving a diverse community.
To help potential applicants, the District launched a “Steps to Prepare” page on www.tvfr.com that provides resources and information about what individuals can do to learn more, prepare, and apply. It also includes job descriptions and requirements.
TVF&R is hosting a Facebook/Instagram live informational meeting on both social media platforms Thursday, April 15, at 6 p.m. that will provide insight on what it takes to become a firefighter. Those interested in exploring a career as a firefighter are encouraged to attend and follow TVF&R on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for recruitment updates and event reminders.
A virtual paramedic informational meeting was held in March. The event was recorded, and a link is available for those unable to attend.
There’s never been a better time to consider a career in the fire service. To learn more about joining TVF&R’s team of first responders, visit www.tvfr.com/412/Steps-to-Prepare.
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Skyline Grange News
Skyline Grange Makes Plans for the Return of Live Events This Fall
By Sen Speroff
As more and more Oregonians are getting vaccinated, our Grange remains cautious and will continue to follow Oregon Health Authority (OHA) pandemic guidelines. At this point we are accepting rental requests for mid-autumn and beyond. We have also tentatively put our traditional fall events on the calendar. Keep abreast of activities on our new website, on SRN’s Newsline and in the Skyline Ridge Runner. We miss being a location for community gatherings and look forward to seeing you when it is safe to do so.
New Grange Website
For many years SRN has generously provided a page on its website for Grange use for which Skyline Grange is very grateful. When Janci Vandenberg joined the Grange, she offered her skills to establish a website for us. It is up and running atcwww.skylinegrange894.org with information about upcoming events, photos, rental information, and a calendar. Please visit it.
Yoga at the Grange
Janci continues to offer yoga classes via Zoom, but we are hoping in-person classes can resume by mid-April with strict mask-wearing, distancing, and adhering to OHA guidelines. For updates, schedule, and registration, visit Janci’s website at www.yogainalignment.com.
Fall Garage Sale
Tentatively, we will hold our fall garage sale on October 1-2. We are still not accepting donations from the community until we know for certain if a garage sale can be safely held, if so, we will start accepting donations in August/September.
Community Soup Supper
This event is a favorite with 12 different homemade soups, fresh baked breads and dessert. We hope to see its return on Saturday, October 23.
Artisan’s Holiday Sale
Tentative plans are being made for this popular event. With 20+ local artisans presenting beautiful and unique handmade goods just in time for the holidays, it’s one you won’t want to miss. Save the dates of November 13 & 14.
Join Skyline Grange
Grange is a non-partisan, non-sectarian, non-profit, and a totally volunteer-driven organization. We are a diverse group of people with the common belief that we are fortunate to live in the Skyline area and want to support its well-being. We take seriously the fact that our building is a community asset as a gathering place. Our impact, activities, and accomplishments depend upon our members and community volunteers.
Working together binds us together, though the pandemic certainly has curtailed our activities. You can contact the Grange at SkylineGrange894@msn.com and for rental inquiries later in 2021 at skylinegrange894@gmail.com. Skyline Grange is located at 11275 NW Skyline Boulevard. Our website iscwww.skylinegrange894.org. Our Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/Skyline-Grange-894-169559023662398/.
As more and more Oregonians are getting vaccinated, our Grange remains cautious and will continue to follow Oregon Health Authority (OHA) pandemic guidelines. At this point we are accepting rental requests for mid-autumn and beyond. We have also tentatively put our traditional fall events on the calendar. Keep abreast of activities on our new website, on SRN’s Newsline and in the Skyline Ridge Runner. We miss being a location for community gatherings and look forward to seeing you when it is safe to do so.
New Grange Website
For many years SRN has generously provided a page on its website for Grange use for which Skyline Grange is very grateful. When Janci Vandenberg joined the Grange, she offered her skills to establish a website for us. It is up and running atcwww.skylinegrange894.org with information about upcoming events, photos, rental information, and a calendar. Please visit it.
Yoga at the Grange
Janci continues to offer yoga classes via Zoom, but we are hoping in-person classes can resume by mid-April with strict mask-wearing, distancing, and adhering to OHA guidelines. For updates, schedule, and registration, visit Janci’s website at www.yogainalignment.com.
Fall Garage Sale
Tentatively, we will hold our fall garage sale on October 1-2. We are still not accepting donations from the community until we know for certain if a garage sale can be safely held, if so, we will start accepting donations in August/September.
Community Soup Supper
This event is a favorite with 12 different homemade soups, fresh baked breads and dessert. We hope to see its return on Saturday, October 23.
Artisan’s Holiday Sale
Tentative plans are being made for this popular event. With 20+ local artisans presenting beautiful and unique handmade goods just in time for the holidays, it’s one you won’t want to miss. Save the dates of November 13 & 14.
Join Skyline Grange
Grange is a non-partisan, non-sectarian, non-profit, and a totally volunteer-driven organization. We are a diverse group of people with the common belief that we are fortunate to live in the Skyline area and want to support its well-being. We take seriously the fact that our building is a community asset as a gathering place. Our impact, activities, and accomplishments depend upon our members and community volunteers.
Working together binds us together, though the pandemic certainly has curtailed our activities. You can contact the Grange at SkylineGrange894@msn.com and for rental inquiries later in 2021 at skylinegrange894@gmail.com. Skyline Grange is located at 11275 NW Skyline Boulevard. Our website iscwww.skylinegrange894.org. Our Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/Skyline-Grange-894-169559023662398/.
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Classifieds
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Write/Bright: Full spectrum writing, editing and research service. Prize-winning writer and editor, Oregon Book Award finalist, will help you put your best words forward. Speechwriting, copyediting, newsletters and resumes, works of fiction and poetry, memoirs, family history... Call or email to discuss your project’s needs.
Barbara LaMorticella, 503.621.9894, barbala@teleport.com. Indonesian Martial Arts Training. Poekoelan is a “soft” art, with emphasis on personal self-defense in real life situations. Terrific exercise for the entire family regardless of current fitness level. All ages are welcome. Tuesdays & Thursdays at Skyline Grange, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm. Suggested donation $5/person/lesson. For more info, contact Bantoe Christina Traunweiser, 503.307.1913. Rent the Skyline Grange. Reservations are tentatively accepted for dates after mid-October. Rental details at www.skylinegrange894.org. |
Phoenix Farm Riding School. English horse riding lessons for the whole family. All ages and ability levels welcome! Day-off-school camps. Summer camps. Parties and special events. Located on the corner of Skyline Blvd. & Rock Creek Rd. Call/text 503.621.3823, email 13phoenixfarm13@gmail.com.
Owen West Electric. Our specialty is service and panel changes, kitchen and bath remodels, security, and yard lighting. 30 years of experience. CCB #29492. 503.297.6375 Office, 503.880.9512 Cell Borrow tool to eliminate Scotch broom, holly & other woody shrubs and sapling trees easily. SRN will lend 3 sizes of Weed Wrench. Contact Sen 503.621.3331 for large & medium size (Skyline near mile marker 15). Contact Laura 503.407.7175 for small size (McNamee Rd.). |
Community Calendar
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April 13, 6:30 PM: SRN Board online meeting via Zoom. All are welcome to attend. Contact Emily Bennett (ebemilybennett@gmail.com) to get the link.
April 15, 6:00 PM: TVF&R hosts a Facebook/ Instagram live informational meeting on both social media platforms that will provide insight into what it takes to become a firefighter. Find more information at tvfr.com. April 17, 9:00 AM - Noon: Annual SOLVE roadside clean-up day. Register at the Skyline Grange (11275 NW Skyline Blvd) between 8-10 AM to get SOLVE bags and a route assignment of your choosing. April 22, 7-8:30 PM: SRN spring meeting via Zoom. Short business meeting followed by speakers from local nonprofits, Skyline Grange, Skyline NET and MC Sheriff’s Office. See story on page 1 for details. |
May 11, 6:30 PM: SRN Board online meeting via Zoom. All are welcome to attend. Contact Emily Bennett (ebemilybennett@gmail.com) to get the link.
June 8, 6:30 PM: SRN Board online meeting via Zoom. All are welcome to attend. Contact Emily Bennett (ebemilybennett@gmail.com) to get the link. August 21: The return of the SRN Summer Gathering at Plumper Pumpkin Patch is tentatively scheduled for this date, if large outdoor gatherings are allowed by then. Save the date! |
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Thanks for Your Donations!
Many thanks to the following neighbors and friends who recently made cash donations to SRN: ~ David J. Sayler ~ John & Lynn Barnes ~ Jean Jensen ~ Kristin Rader SRN relies on the financial support of the Skyline community to pursue its nonprofit, educational mission. We operate entirely on the volunteer efforts of neighbors like you. Donations are tax-deductible and always appreciated! Please make checks payable to SRN and send them to Rachael Brake, SRN Treasurer, 14109 NW Rock Creek Rd., Portland, OR 97231. Thank you |
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Skyline Ridge Runner
Editor: Miles Merwin
Contributing Editor: Laura Foster
Page Composition & Graphics: Agnes Kwan
Copy Editor: Libby Merwin
Printing & Mailing: City of Portland, Metro Presort
Digital Editors: Emily Bennett, Shea Lavalier
Contributors: Sen Speroff, Barbara LaMorticella, Christina Lent
Send comments, articles, opinions and advertising requests to the Ridge Runner, 14416 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, OR 97231, ridgerunner@srnpdx.org, or fax to 503.621.3450. Deadlines for all submissions are the 15th day of March, June, September, and December unless otherwise announced. Letters to the Editor are welcome, but must include your name and phone number for verification. Letters may be edited for length.
➜ Deadline for the next issue is March 15
Skyline Ridge Neighbors Inc.
Skyline Ridge Neighbors is a nonprofit organization serving rural northwestern Multnomah County through educational, environmental, and social programs that inform residents on relevant issues and events. SRN endeavors to better our community, encourage volunteer efforts, and openly communicate with residents and outside organizations.
SRN Board of Directors
Skyline Rural Watch Newsline
Subscribe to SRN’s weekly email newsletter of local events and news via the link at www.srnpdx.org. Contact the Editor, Laurel Erhardt, at newsline@srnpdx.org or 503.621.3501 to submit items for publication
SRN Website
Visit www.srnpdx.org for more news, photos and information about our community. If you have questions or comments, contact the Webmaster, Agnes Kwan, at webmaster@srnpdx.org.
The views and opinions presented herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by SRN or Skyline neighborhood residents.
Editor: Miles Merwin
Contributing Editor: Laura Foster
Page Composition & Graphics: Agnes Kwan
Copy Editor: Libby Merwin
Printing & Mailing: City of Portland, Metro Presort
Digital Editors: Emily Bennett, Shea Lavalier
Contributors: Sen Speroff, Barbara LaMorticella, Christina Lent
Send comments, articles, opinions and advertising requests to the Ridge Runner, 14416 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, OR 97231, ridgerunner@srnpdx.org, or fax to 503.621.3450. Deadlines for all submissions are the 15th day of March, June, September, and December unless otherwise announced. Letters to the Editor are welcome, but must include your name and phone number for verification. Letters may be edited for length.
➜ Deadline for the next issue is March 15
Skyline Ridge Neighbors Inc.
Skyline Ridge Neighbors is a nonprofit organization serving rural northwestern Multnomah County through educational, environmental, and social programs that inform residents on relevant issues and events. SRN endeavors to better our community, encourage volunteer efforts, and openly communicate with residents and outside organizations.
SRN Board of Directors
- Suzanne Perra - President - 503.866.9289 - president@srnpdx.org,
- Emily Bennett - Vice President - 971.280.3142
- Rachael Brake - Treasurer & Secretary - 503.621.3423, 503.201.6740 / treasurer@srnpdx.org, secretary@srnpdx.org
- Alex Rose - 213.507.6616
- Brad Graff - 503.292.1614
- George Sowder - 503.621.3552, 503.961.3440
- Grant Rolette - 503.621.3423, 503.985.2060
- Shea Lavalier - 612.718.9683
Skyline Rural Watch Newsline
Subscribe to SRN’s weekly email newsletter of local events and news via the link at www.srnpdx.org. Contact the Editor, Laurel Erhardt, at newsline@srnpdx.org or 503.621.3501 to submit items for publication
SRN Website
Visit www.srnpdx.org for more news, photos and information about our community. If you have questions or comments, contact the Webmaster, Agnes Kwan, at webmaster@srnpdx.org.
The views and opinions presented herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by SRN or Skyline neighborhood residents.