SRN Internet Survey Reveals Lack of Reliable Service in Our Area
By George Sowder
SRN has conducted a survey of our residents’ experience with, and quality of Internet access (alternately known as “Broadband access”). We conducted this survey both online and directly through our Ridge Runner for anyone unable to complete the survey online. Thank you all for your participation!
We received 128 responses online and 51 responses to our insert in our July Ridge Runner newsletter. We are still analyzing the details but wanted to share some themes from the responses.
The most striking result of the survey is that only 25% of the respondents have broadband access, which the FCC defines as 35 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload. If this is more or less representative of everyone in our neighborhood, it indicates a serious need for better service.
The highest number of respondents (41%) use CenturyLink. Respondents reported speeds of about 1Mbps download/0.3 Mbps upload or less. No one had positive comments about CenturyLink service. Comcast (a cable service) had the second highest number of respondents (31%) and appears to be the only service that is capable of minimum Broadband speeds or better. Cost becomes a significant factor as monthly cost varies between $100-$200.
Area Served by a Myriad of Providers
A total of eight providers were utilized by our neighborhood but not all are available area-wide. Coho (directed antenna) was available for a few, depending on line of sight location; cellular hotspots by a few (also requiring good line of sight to cell towers); Hughesnet and Viasat (satellite) used by some, but data caps were very restrictive and latency was a very significant issue, as well as network congestion at high use times of the day.
Several respondents had resorted to two services to provide a modicum of reliable internet service. Starlink was used by a few and received a generally favorable appraisal. However, Starlink is considered somewhat expensive at $100/month and was chosen because other options were unavailable or inadequate. Starlink remains in ‘beta’ test phase and isn’t accepting new accounts at the present time, although customers can submit a deposit to be added to the waitlist for new service.
In terms of uses, a significant majority of respondents listed work/conferencing as a necessity, as well as the usual email, website access, and some streaming. But streaming was usually considerably constrained by data limits imposed by metered plans. Also a surprising number used internet access for medical reasons and school. This may be partially due to the isolation and restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless of use, reliable internet service is deemed critical by all.
The survey responses included numerous comments from residents who experienced many issues trying to work remotely this past year:
Cell Phone Service Also Inadequate
The comments concerning the cell phone service available in our area were consistently negative, as many complained of very few bars or no bars of service. Most of the respondents use Verizon or AT&T. Some people have had to resort to switching cell service providers or using wifi (internet) calling to be able to use cell phones at all.
The comments by a large majority expressed frustration with the current situation where, to summarize, most residents cobble together whatever system they can devise, with very few options, at considerable expense and poor quality, or do without.
Thanks again to the community for your responses to this survey. We will continue to refine the results in order to craft them into the most effective form to communicate with our local representatives. A full summary of the anonymized survey results will be posted on the SRN website: watch for an announcement in the Newsline.
Click HERE to download the complete survey results.
*Emily Bennett and Tracey Larvenz contributed to this story.
SRN has conducted a survey of our residents’ experience with, and quality of Internet access (alternately known as “Broadband access”). We conducted this survey both online and directly through our Ridge Runner for anyone unable to complete the survey online. Thank you all for your participation!
We received 128 responses online and 51 responses to our insert in our July Ridge Runner newsletter. We are still analyzing the details but wanted to share some themes from the responses.
The most striking result of the survey is that only 25% of the respondents have broadband access, which the FCC defines as 35 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload. If this is more or less representative of everyone in our neighborhood, it indicates a serious need for better service.
The highest number of respondents (41%) use CenturyLink. Respondents reported speeds of about 1Mbps download/0.3 Mbps upload or less. No one had positive comments about CenturyLink service. Comcast (a cable service) had the second highest number of respondents (31%) and appears to be the only service that is capable of minimum Broadband speeds or better. Cost becomes a significant factor as monthly cost varies between $100-$200.
Area Served by a Myriad of Providers
A total of eight providers were utilized by our neighborhood but not all are available area-wide. Coho (directed antenna) was available for a few, depending on line of sight location; cellular hotspots by a few (also requiring good line of sight to cell towers); Hughesnet and Viasat (satellite) used by some, but data caps were very restrictive and latency was a very significant issue, as well as network congestion at high use times of the day.
Several respondents had resorted to two services to provide a modicum of reliable internet service. Starlink was used by a few and received a generally favorable appraisal. However, Starlink is considered somewhat expensive at $100/month and was chosen because other options were unavailable or inadequate. Starlink remains in ‘beta’ test phase and isn’t accepting new accounts at the present time, although customers can submit a deposit to be added to the waitlist for new service.
In terms of uses, a significant majority of respondents listed work/conferencing as a necessity, as well as the usual email, website access, and some streaming. But streaming was usually considerably constrained by data limits imposed by metered plans. Also a surprising number used internet access for medical reasons and school. This may be partially due to the isolation and restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless of use, reliable internet service is deemed critical by all.
The survey responses included numerous comments from residents who experienced many issues trying to work remotely this past year:
- “I have been at risk of job loss due to poor internet service, being sent home for safety during COVID. Internet is not optional -- it’s critical infrastructure.”
- “We’ve actually considered moving out of this wonderful area because of ongoing and extreme frustrations with internet connectivity. Living in an area with such bad internet affects my life profoundly, including not being able to engage in my career unless I rent an office in town. This seems unacceptable in 2021.”
Cell Phone Service Also Inadequate
The comments concerning the cell phone service available in our area were consistently negative, as many complained of very few bars or no bars of service. Most of the respondents use Verizon or AT&T. Some people have had to resort to switching cell service providers or using wifi (internet) calling to be able to use cell phones at all.
The comments by a large majority expressed frustration with the current situation where, to summarize, most residents cobble together whatever system they can devise, with very few options, at considerable expense and poor quality, or do without.
Thanks again to the community for your responses to this survey. We will continue to refine the results in order to craft them into the most effective form to communicate with our local representatives. A full summary of the anonymized survey results will be posted on the SRN website: watch for an announcement in the Newsline.
Click HERE to download the complete survey results.
*Emily Bennett and Tracey Larvenz contributed to this story.
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Life on the Hill
Summer Gathering Cancelled Again Due to COVID-19
Check out the Plump Pumpkins and Jolly Christmas Trees at Plumper Pumpkin Patch and Tree Farm, host of our Summer Gatherings. (Photo: courtesy Plumper Pumpkin)
By Suzanne Perra, SRN President
Our annual Skyline Ridge Neighbors (SRN) Summer Gathering and Auction (scheduled for August 21) was cancelled for the second year in a row due to the pandemic. Out of concern for our community and with the rise of cases and hospitalizations from the new Delta variant, the SRN Board voted to cancel the event and reschedule for a later time when cases are not drastically rising. We were also starting to get word that some key volunteers and neighbors were not willing to attend a large event at this time.
Thanks for the Hard Work and Donations
We put a lot of effort into this event and worked up until the day it was cancelled which was 2 weeks before the event. We had all our donations from businesses lined up and drop offs of neighborhood donations were scheduled that week. Local businesses were very generous this year as they had been in the past. Most are willing to put their donations on hold until next year. Community members planned to attend including State Reps and County Commissioner, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Deputy David McGarry, TVFR, Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET), FIREWISE, NW Trails, and Ecology Outdoors (ECO). All the hard work and donations were appreciated.
Thank you to our key volunteers and donors who had committed to help produce this event:
Auction Co-chairs (and Activity Leaders): Suzanne Perra and Brad Graff
Activity Leaders: Shea Lavalier, Sen Speroff, Valerie Driscoll, Rachael Brake, George Sowder, Lisa Graff and Alex Rose
Auctioneer: Rich Edwards
Band: Cindy Lou Banks and the Brooks Hill Band
Quilt: Tracy Waters and Cindi Cramer
Venue: Plumper Pumpkin Patch and Tree Farm
Dinner: The Meating Place (main course), The Skyline Grange, SRN
Donation Request
SRN is a nonprofit all-volunteer neighborhood association for rural NW Multnomah County. SRN supports communication and education via the Skyline Ridge Runner, Newsline emails and the SRN Spring Meeting. The Summer Gathering is SRN’s only fundraiser of the year.
Activities Provided or Supported by SRN
SRN provides SOLVE cleanups, invasive weed control and address sign installations. SRN invites informational speakers such as Multnomah County Sheriff, West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, Northwest Trail Alliance and Ecology Outdoors to our events. SRN supports Community Organizations such as the Skyline Grange, Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET), Firewise, and Skyline School. Again this year, SRN sponsored the Garlic Mustard Disposal effort. SRN also supported Skyline Ridge NET with the purchase of a large storage container. As is happening in many cases during the pandemic, prices are quickly escalating. The SRN Board voted to stick with our commitment to the Skyline Ridge NET during escalating prices for the purchase of a large storage container.
Please consider supporting SRN this year with a donation to show your support. No donation is too small because they all add up and show support for SRN. Donations are tax-deductible. Here are the ways you can currently show your support.
We look forward to when we can gather together to celebrate with our neighbors at the next Annual SRN Summer Gathering.
Our annual Skyline Ridge Neighbors (SRN) Summer Gathering and Auction (scheduled for August 21) was cancelled for the second year in a row due to the pandemic. Out of concern for our community and with the rise of cases and hospitalizations from the new Delta variant, the SRN Board voted to cancel the event and reschedule for a later time when cases are not drastically rising. We were also starting to get word that some key volunteers and neighbors were not willing to attend a large event at this time.
Thanks for the Hard Work and Donations
We put a lot of effort into this event and worked up until the day it was cancelled which was 2 weeks before the event. We had all our donations from businesses lined up and drop offs of neighborhood donations were scheduled that week. Local businesses were very generous this year as they had been in the past. Most are willing to put their donations on hold until next year. Community members planned to attend including State Reps and County Commissioner, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Deputy David McGarry, TVFR, Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET), FIREWISE, NW Trails, and Ecology Outdoors (ECO). All the hard work and donations were appreciated.
Thank you to our key volunteers and donors who had committed to help produce this event:
Auction Co-chairs (and Activity Leaders): Suzanne Perra and Brad Graff
Activity Leaders: Shea Lavalier, Sen Speroff, Valerie Driscoll, Rachael Brake, George Sowder, Lisa Graff and Alex Rose
Auctioneer: Rich Edwards
Band: Cindy Lou Banks and the Brooks Hill Band
Quilt: Tracy Waters and Cindi Cramer
Venue: Plumper Pumpkin Patch and Tree Farm
Dinner: The Meating Place (main course), The Skyline Grange, SRN
Donation Request
SRN is a nonprofit all-volunteer neighborhood association for rural NW Multnomah County. SRN supports communication and education via the Skyline Ridge Runner, Newsline emails and the SRN Spring Meeting. The Summer Gathering is SRN’s only fundraiser of the year.
Activities Provided or Supported by SRN
SRN provides SOLVE cleanups, invasive weed control and address sign installations. SRN invites informational speakers such as Multnomah County Sheriff, West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, Northwest Trail Alliance and Ecology Outdoors to our events. SRN supports Community Organizations such as the Skyline Grange, Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET), Firewise, and Skyline School. Again this year, SRN sponsored the Garlic Mustard Disposal effort. SRN also supported Skyline Ridge NET with the purchase of a large storage container. As is happening in many cases during the pandemic, prices are quickly escalating. The SRN Board voted to stick with our commitment to the Skyline Ridge NET during escalating prices for the purchase of a large storage container.
Please consider supporting SRN this year with a donation to show your support. No donation is too small because they all add up and show support for SRN. Donations are tax-deductible. Here are the ways you can currently show your support.
- Check: Make checks payable to Skyline Ridge Neighbors and send them to Rachael Brake, SRN Treasurer, 14109 NW Rock Creek Rd., Portland, OR 97231-2410.
- Venmo: Online donations to SRN can be made using Venmo; account is rcmbrake@hotmail.com and be sure to indicate it is a donation to SRN. Please provide your mailing address if you want a receipt.
- Amazon: Log onto https://smile.amazon.com, designate Supporting: Skyline Ridge Neighbors Inc as your charity, and Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase to SRN. Remember to always log into https://smile.amazon.com when making an Amazon purchase.
- Donor Advised Fund: Designate Skyline Ridge Neighbors (Tax ID 93-1290279) as a charity for a grant this year.
We look forward to when we can gather together to celebrate with our neighbors at the next Annual SRN Summer Gathering.
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Local Businesses
Find Local Meat and Produce at Helvetia Farm Market
John Mathia and Geoff Scott are co-owners of Helvetia Farm Market at Marion Acres (Photo: S. Perra)
By Suzanne Perra
I randomly came across Helvetia Farm Market a year ago while tagging along with my husband on his quest for high quality cream to make homemade butter. I was excited by what I found. I am now happy to be able to write about Helvetia Market and share this gem with our readers.
History
Marion Acres was started in 2012 when the Mathia (John and Rachelle) and Scott (Geoff and Amy) families bought some land in Marion County to start a modest farm to feed their families. They then had a short-term land lease in Woodburn, OR where they had some success with broiler chickens before landing where they are currently located in Helvetia on the corner of Helvetia Road and NW West Union Road. In 2017, they completed their own poultry facility (open to the public) and farm market on their new 47-acre plot of land.
Philosophy
Helvetia Farm Market focuses on freshness, and they raise and process their own animals and grow and sell their own produce or sell produce from local organic farms. They use no antibiotics, no hormones, use sustainable practices and sell locally grown and produced food. They follow organic and regenerative practices. There are no chemical fertilizers. Their chickens fertilize the fields. There is lots of composting. Plants on the farm and surrounding the market are either edible or drought tolerant.
Their business model is to sustain the local economy. They employ 49 local employees: half seasonal and half full time. They support local farms, and all products are mainly from Oregon, but some are from as far north as Seattle.
All meats and produce are grown on-site. There is a poultry processing plant right alongside the market and chickens can be bought the same day they are butchered.
Market
Inside the market, you will find local groceries, an organic espresso bar, organic wines, local beer, organic produce, old-world breads, pasture-raised meats, gifts and more.
There is ample outdoor covered seating on the patio and there is additional seating on the grass area. In the morning, enjoy your expresso while the kids chase chickens and play lawn games. In the evening, come for the coastal sunset and select from local beers and organic wines. There are lots of food and snacks from the store to nibble on. Gather with a group of friends and enjoy a Charcuterie plate. Charcuterie plates can also be preordered for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Animals
They sell pasture-raised meats including chicken, turkey, pork, beef and eggs. Chickens are treated well at Helvetia Market. Chickens reside in chicken tractors which are very large mobile cages that are moved every day to provide the chickens with fresh grass to eat, and to distribute the manure. The egg laying hens are free range. The happy hens produce 200 eggs/day. Two resident white farm dogs protect the flock from hawks.
Turkeys are available late summer and fall. They sell out quickly for Thanksgiving, so it is best to get on the waiting list. Cows and pigs are moved often to fresh plots of pasture where they can freely roam.
Produce
Produce is fresh and some produce is grown onsite with plans to expand. Currently, there is a vegetable garden in front of the store with a large variety of plants, and more gardens out back. The rest of the produce is from local organic farms.
Classes
Some classes that have taken place at Helvetia Farm Market in the past include the Mother’s Day Weekend Bouquet Workshop, Fall Gourd Workshop and Holiday Wreath Workshop, but the most memorable class is the Ladies’ Chicken Harvest. Step back in time and experience what your grandmothers and great grandmothers used to do to get dinner on the table. Among other things, this class includes how to butcher a chicken, cut up a chicken and use the chicken carcass so nothing goes to waste.
One event to look forward to is the annual Around the World Market, which was a big success last year and it was so much fun to learn about countries from around the world. All the vendors live locally but have heritage from somewhere around the world, so they all decorated their tables for their country and brought products inspired by their heritage. They had little passports for the kids so they could get a stamp from each vendor and then cash it in for a hot cocoa inside. They have other themed open-air markets planned as well. It’s like a farmer’s market where they feature local vendors and everything they have to offer.
Stop by the market at 23137 NW West Union Road, Hillsboro, OR 97124 in the Helvetia area. You can also learn more on their website: marionacres.com.
I randomly came across Helvetia Farm Market a year ago while tagging along with my husband on his quest for high quality cream to make homemade butter. I was excited by what I found. I am now happy to be able to write about Helvetia Market and share this gem with our readers.
History
Marion Acres was started in 2012 when the Mathia (John and Rachelle) and Scott (Geoff and Amy) families bought some land in Marion County to start a modest farm to feed their families. They then had a short-term land lease in Woodburn, OR where they had some success with broiler chickens before landing where they are currently located in Helvetia on the corner of Helvetia Road and NW West Union Road. In 2017, they completed their own poultry facility (open to the public) and farm market on their new 47-acre plot of land.
Philosophy
Helvetia Farm Market focuses on freshness, and they raise and process their own animals and grow and sell their own produce or sell produce from local organic farms. They use no antibiotics, no hormones, use sustainable practices and sell locally grown and produced food. They follow organic and regenerative practices. There are no chemical fertilizers. Their chickens fertilize the fields. There is lots of composting. Plants on the farm and surrounding the market are either edible or drought tolerant.
Their business model is to sustain the local economy. They employ 49 local employees: half seasonal and half full time. They support local farms, and all products are mainly from Oregon, but some are from as far north as Seattle.
All meats and produce are grown on-site. There is a poultry processing plant right alongside the market and chickens can be bought the same day they are butchered.
Market
Inside the market, you will find local groceries, an organic espresso bar, organic wines, local beer, organic produce, old-world breads, pasture-raised meats, gifts and more.
There is ample outdoor covered seating on the patio and there is additional seating on the grass area. In the morning, enjoy your expresso while the kids chase chickens and play lawn games. In the evening, come for the coastal sunset and select from local beers and organic wines. There are lots of food and snacks from the store to nibble on. Gather with a group of friends and enjoy a Charcuterie plate. Charcuterie plates can also be preordered for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Animals
They sell pasture-raised meats including chicken, turkey, pork, beef and eggs. Chickens are treated well at Helvetia Market. Chickens reside in chicken tractors which are very large mobile cages that are moved every day to provide the chickens with fresh grass to eat, and to distribute the manure. The egg laying hens are free range. The happy hens produce 200 eggs/day. Two resident white farm dogs protect the flock from hawks.
Turkeys are available late summer and fall. They sell out quickly for Thanksgiving, so it is best to get on the waiting list. Cows and pigs are moved often to fresh plots of pasture where they can freely roam.
Produce
Produce is fresh and some produce is grown onsite with plans to expand. Currently, there is a vegetable garden in front of the store with a large variety of plants, and more gardens out back. The rest of the produce is from local organic farms.
Classes
Some classes that have taken place at Helvetia Farm Market in the past include the Mother’s Day Weekend Bouquet Workshop, Fall Gourd Workshop and Holiday Wreath Workshop, but the most memorable class is the Ladies’ Chicken Harvest. Step back in time and experience what your grandmothers and great grandmothers used to do to get dinner on the table. Among other things, this class includes how to butcher a chicken, cut up a chicken and use the chicken carcass so nothing goes to waste.
One event to look forward to is the annual Around the World Market, which was a big success last year and it was so much fun to learn about countries from around the world. All the vendors live locally but have heritage from somewhere around the world, so they all decorated their tables for their country and brought products inspired by their heritage. They had little passports for the kids so they could get a stamp from each vendor and then cash it in for a hot cocoa inside. They have other themed open-air markets planned as well. It’s like a farmer’s market where they feature local vendors and everything they have to offer.
Stop by the market at 23137 NW West Union Road, Hillsboro, OR 97124 in the Helvetia area. You can also learn more on their website: marionacres.com.
Public Service
Download Free Fire Preparedness Resources from OSU Extension
By Nicole Sanchez, OSU Extension
With significant fires across Oregon early in the 2021 fire season, forest families can benefit from the peace of mind that comes with preparedness and a plan. Several fires in Oregon and northern California have already led to evacuations and disruptions in road and train travel. An exceptionally dry year and an early-starting fire season increase the risk for damage to homes and property, an ideal time to consider the ways home and landscape management practices can contribute to, or reduce, fire risk.
Oregon State University upgraded its statewide fire program after an allocation from the Oregon state legislature in 2019: some outcomes from this funding include six fire specialists across the state, who help homeowners assess and reduce risk on forested properties, contribute to curriculum and training materials for firefighters, and more. The Extension fire team has created a wide range of resources to help Oregonians, including both print publications and recorded videos packaged on their website: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/fire-program.
There are a variety of management tools homeowners can implement to reduce risk, be prepared, and respond quickly when fire arises. Some of these tools are described in the OSU Extension publications outlined below. OSU Extension's publications are free and accessible online, including an entire series of "Fire FAQ's" fact sheets covering a wider range of fire related topics: forest density and management, air quality impacts, salvage cutting. The materials described below are more specific to actions homeowners can take to reduce personal and property risk. To access these resources, go to https://catalog.extension. oregonstate.edu/, and enter the publication number in the Search Catalog box at the upper right hand corner.
Are structures fuel? (EM 9291). A startling quote from the document: "Individual homes today burn faster than they did 50 years ago. Now, when a fire starts in a room, it can transition to"flashover" (when a fire in a room becomes an entire room on fire) in approximately three minutes, compared to 30 minutes in homes several decades ago that contained natural furnishings and building materials." Further information identifies both the items that maketoday's homes more risky, and steps folks can take to reduce their risk.
Protecting your "Home Ignition Zone" (EM 9247). Here, readers will find information about how to classify different risk zones on their properties, and detailed checklists of the types of activities in each zone that can reduce fire risk. For example, right around the home, keeping gutters clean and conifer needles off the roof are helpful. Even the roofing and window screen materials chosen for a home can increase or decrease susceptibility.
Choosing fire resistant plants (PNW 590). In addition to pruning, keeping plants from growing too close to the home, and planting arrangements that reduce heat around the home, this guide provides a list of plants that are both attractive in the landscape and fire resistant. While no plants are fire proof, characteristics like low resin, watery sap, supple and moist leaves are found in fire-adapted plants. Plants in the guide are grouped by landscape function such as shade tree, ground cover, and shrub, and lots of color pictures help the reader visualize how they might look in the landscape.
Reducing risk in forested areas (PNW 618). Those on properties with lots of trees will find this comprehensive guide helpful in applying management concepts like firebreaks, fuel loads, access, and water. Detailed information on wildfire behavior, including a case study from Oregon is provided. Understanding of fire behavior can help homeowners to determine where to apply tools like canopy thinning and firebreaks so they can be most effective.
Fire adapted communities (EM 9116). Using Klamath County as an example of a fire prone community, this guide takes many of the previously described risk management concepts from the single home to the community scale. Development of non-combustible spaces, working with neighbors and local agencies to create defensible spaces, and what to have ready if evacuation is necessary are all covered here. Historical information provides context for understanding that some Klamath communities are at higher risk of fire damage than has been true in the past.
The possibility of a long and dangerous 2021 fire season is real. Recent and ongoing fires provide important opportunities - both to reach out to neighbors who may now be in need, and to protect our own spaces to the best of our abilities. In the case of landscapes and forested areas around homes, steps towards preparedness are best taken well in advance ofan actual fire in the area.
OSU Extension's fire program specialists are distributed throughout the state. To find the regional specialist for your area, please visit https://extension.oregonstate.edu/program/all/fire-program/people.
This story appeared originally in Oregon Family Forests News, August 2021, a publication of Oregon Small Woodlands Association (https://www.oswa.org/blog/).
With significant fires across Oregon early in the 2021 fire season, forest families can benefit from the peace of mind that comes with preparedness and a plan. Several fires in Oregon and northern California have already led to evacuations and disruptions in road and train travel. An exceptionally dry year and an early-starting fire season increase the risk for damage to homes and property, an ideal time to consider the ways home and landscape management practices can contribute to, or reduce, fire risk.
Oregon State University upgraded its statewide fire program after an allocation from the Oregon state legislature in 2019: some outcomes from this funding include six fire specialists across the state, who help homeowners assess and reduce risk on forested properties, contribute to curriculum and training materials for firefighters, and more. The Extension fire team has created a wide range of resources to help Oregonians, including both print publications and recorded videos packaged on their website: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/fire-program.
There are a variety of management tools homeowners can implement to reduce risk, be prepared, and respond quickly when fire arises. Some of these tools are described in the OSU Extension publications outlined below. OSU Extension's publications are free and accessible online, including an entire series of "Fire FAQ's" fact sheets covering a wider range of fire related topics: forest density and management, air quality impacts, salvage cutting. The materials described below are more specific to actions homeowners can take to reduce personal and property risk. To access these resources, go to https://catalog.extension. oregonstate.edu/, and enter the publication number in the Search Catalog box at the upper right hand corner.
Are structures fuel? (EM 9291). A startling quote from the document: "Individual homes today burn faster than they did 50 years ago. Now, when a fire starts in a room, it can transition to"flashover" (when a fire in a room becomes an entire room on fire) in approximately three minutes, compared to 30 minutes in homes several decades ago that contained natural furnishings and building materials." Further information identifies both the items that maketoday's homes more risky, and steps folks can take to reduce their risk.
Protecting your "Home Ignition Zone" (EM 9247). Here, readers will find information about how to classify different risk zones on their properties, and detailed checklists of the types of activities in each zone that can reduce fire risk. For example, right around the home, keeping gutters clean and conifer needles off the roof are helpful. Even the roofing and window screen materials chosen for a home can increase or decrease susceptibility.
Choosing fire resistant plants (PNW 590). In addition to pruning, keeping plants from growing too close to the home, and planting arrangements that reduce heat around the home, this guide provides a list of plants that are both attractive in the landscape and fire resistant. While no plants are fire proof, characteristics like low resin, watery sap, supple and moist leaves are found in fire-adapted plants. Plants in the guide are grouped by landscape function such as shade tree, ground cover, and shrub, and lots of color pictures help the reader visualize how they might look in the landscape.
Reducing risk in forested areas (PNW 618). Those on properties with lots of trees will find this comprehensive guide helpful in applying management concepts like firebreaks, fuel loads, access, and water. Detailed information on wildfire behavior, including a case study from Oregon is provided. Understanding of fire behavior can help homeowners to determine where to apply tools like canopy thinning and firebreaks so they can be most effective.
Fire adapted communities (EM 9116). Using Klamath County as an example of a fire prone community, this guide takes many of the previously described risk management concepts from the single home to the community scale. Development of non-combustible spaces, working with neighbors and local agencies to create defensible spaces, and what to have ready if evacuation is necessary are all covered here. Historical information provides context for understanding that some Klamath communities are at higher risk of fire damage than has been true in the past.
The possibility of a long and dangerous 2021 fire season is real. Recent and ongoing fires provide important opportunities - both to reach out to neighbors who may now be in need, and to protect our own spaces to the best of our abilities. In the case of landscapes and forested areas around homes, steps towards preparedness are best taken well in advance ofan actual fire in the area.
OSU Extension's fire program specialists are distributed throughout the state. To find the regional specialist for your area, please visit https://extension.oregonstate.edu/program/all/fire-program/people.
This story appeared originally in Oregon Family Forests News, August 2021, a publication of Oregon Small Woodlands Association (https://www.oswa.org/blog/).
People of Skyline
Remembering Long-Time Skyline Resident Jay David Kravitz
Jay Kravitz gets kisses from his friendly goats (Photo: L. Erhardt)
By Amy Frances Goldstein, University of Washington
Dr. Jay Kravitz was passionate about pitching in. His understated but unrelenting commitment to caring for others fueled a prolific five-decade career in medicine and public health that led Dr. Kravitz around the world – to Ethiopia in famine, to the Thai-Cambodia border during the Khmer Rouge campaign, to Mexico City after an earthquake, and to Lesotho during the AIDS epidemic.
It also landed him at the University of Washington in 1987, where he enrolled in the first cohort of what was then called the International Health Master of Public Health (MPH) Program and is now the Department of Global Health MPH Program.
Steve Gloyd, a professor of global health and the founding director of the MPH programs, says he was immediately impressed by Kravitz’s unique combination of expertise and modesty.
“Jay was a really unusual guy because he had a huge amount of experience and at the same time came in with a level of humility that is rarely matched by somebody with his experience and wisdom,” said Gloyd. “There are very few people who just went out and did work with almost no support. He was an inspiration to pretty much everybody in the program, including me.”
After graduating with an MPH in International Health Services in 1989, Kravitz, who had earned a medical degree from Tulane University in 1972 and was an ER doctor for 14 years at Kaiser Permanente in Portland, Oregon, grew his medical practice into a career in both international and domestic public health.
Throughout the 1990s, Kravitz worked as an epidemiologist in South Africa, surveying the potential human health effects of a proposed dam in both Lesotho and Eswatini (then Swaziland). From 1996-2006, he served as the Public Health Officer for Washington County, Oregon, dedicating special attention to the health of refugee and immigrant communities. And for over 20 years, he was a faculty member at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), where he co-founded the Professionals’ Training in Global Health Program, directed the Concentration in Global Health Studies Program, and earned two awards for excellence in teaching.
Kravitz was passionate about the intersection of health and the environment. He led a rural lifestyle, raising goats, riding horses, and building log homes for himself and friends. Those close to him say he exuded happiness, friendship, positivity, and joy of life.
Following his retirement from OHSU in 2016, he focused his energy on writing policy papers and publishing opinion pieces, including contributing a monthly blog to the Planetary Health Weekly newsletter.
“He was somebody who always questioned the conventional wisdom of development and he did it in such a way where he did, he didn't blame folks. He never seemed to have a mean bone in his body,” said Gloyd.
Kravitz, whose dedication to doing the right thing inspired and moved those who knew him, died on April 10, 2021, in his home on NW Skyline. He was 75.
Story accessed at https://globalhealth.washington.edu/news/2021/05/26/remembering-jay-kravitz-international-health-mph-graduate.
Dr. Jay Kravitz was passionate about pitching in. His understated but unrelenting commitment to caring for others fueled a prolific five-decade career in medicine and public health that led Dr. Kravitz around the world – to Ethiopia in famine, to the Thai-Cambodia border during the Khmer Rouge campaign, to Mexico City after an earthquake, and to Lesotho during the AIDS epidemic.
It also landed him at the University of Washington in 1987, where he enrolled in the first cohort of what was then called the International Health Master of Public Health (MPH) Program and is now the Department of Global Health MPH Program.
Steve Gloyd, a professor of global health and the founding director of the MPH programs, says he was immediately impressed by Kravitz’s unique combination of expertise and modesty.
“Jay was a really unusual guy because he had a huge amount of experience and at the same time came in with a level of humility that is rarely matched by somebody with his experience and wisdom,” said Gloyd. “There are very few people who just went out and did work with almost no support. He was an inspiration to pretty much everybody in the program, including me.”
After graduating with an MPH in International Health Services in 1989, Kravitz, who had earned a medical degree from Tulane University in 1972 and was an ER doctor for 14 years at Kaiser Permanente in Portland, Oregon, grew his medical practice into a career in both international and domestic public health.
Throughout the 1990s, Kravitz worked as an epidemiologist in South Africa, surveying the potential human health effects of a proposed dam in both Lesotho and Eswatini (then Swaziland). From 1996-2006, he served as the Public Health Officer for Washington County, Oregon, dedicating special attention to the health of refugee and immigrant communities. And for over 20 years, he was a faculty member at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), where he co-founded the Professionals’ Training in Global Health Program, directed the Concentration in Global Health Studies Program, and earned two awards for excellence in teaching.
Kravitz was passionate about the intersection of health and the environment. He led a rural lifestyle, raising goats, riding horses, and building log homes for himself and friends. Those close to him say he exuded happiness, friendship, positivity, and joy of life.
Following his retirement from OHSU in 2016, he focused his energy on writing policy papers and publishing opinion pieces, including contributing a monthly blog to the Planetary Health Weekly newsletter.
“He was somebody who always questioned the conventional wisdom of development and he did it in such a way where he did, he didn't blame folks. He never seemed to have a mean bone in his body,” said Gloyd.
Kravitz, whose dedication to doing the right thing inspired and moved those who knew him, died on April 10, 2021, in his home on NW Skyline. He was 75.
Story accessed at https://globalhealth.washington.edu/news/2021/05/26/remembering-jay-kravitz-international-health-mph-graduate.
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Life on the Hill
Meanwhile, Back on the Farm...
By Vickie Coghill, Rock Creek Rd.
Today as I was driving home with a small box of six peeping chicks sitting next to me, I thought how we all have what we consider a crisis at times in our own little worlds, don't we?
For one friend it was a blown engine and a scramble for a replacement vehicle. For another friend it was finding tufts of hair one morning in the yard from her favorite old kitty who was taken by a coyote. For a friend it was losing half her garden in a heat wave. For a student it's trying to come up with $1000 to start a school term. For me it is my recently diagnosed peripheral neuropathy. For another friend it was losing her beautiful 35 year old daughter and her husband of 36 years within a month of each other. For Hazel my grandson's Tim's hen here on the farm it was sitting on a wooden egg that won't hatch.
As I was driving home with those six new chicks, I thought I wish I could resolve all crises in other people's worlds as easily as I can resolve Hazels. Today Hazel will have six new babies to tend to. Jen and I couldn't stand seeing her sit on that fake egg any longer. She was not going to leave that nest box until she had a chick. Crisis was averted today! Instead of three chicks she got six because there was a half-price sale at the feed store today. Now her world is centered and happy again. Ohhhh, if only all of our crises in our worlds were so easily resolved as Hazel the hens was!
Today as I was driving home with a small box of six peeping chicks sitting next to me, I thought how we all have what we consider a crisis at times in our own little worlds, don't we?
For one friend it was a blown engine and a scramble for a replacement vehicle. For another friend it was finding tufts of hair one morning in the yard from her favorite old kitty who was taken by a coyote. For a friend it was losing half her garden in a heat wave. For a student it's trying to come up with $1000 to start a school term. For me it is my recently diagnosed peripheral neuropathy. For another friend it was losing her beautiful 35 year old daughter and her husband of 36 years within a month of each other. For Hazel my grandson's Tim's hen here on the farm it was sitting on a wooden egg that won't hatch.
As I was driving home with those six new chicks, I thought I wish I could resolve all crises in other people's worlds as easily as I can resolve Hazels. Today Hazel will have six new babies to tend to. Jen and I couldn't stand seeing her sit on that fake egg any longer. She was not going to leave that nest box until she had a chick. Crisis was averted today! Instead of three chicks she got six because there was a half-price sale at the feed store today. Now her world is centered and happy again. Ohhhh, if only all of our crises in our worlds were so easily resolved as Hazel the hens was!
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Public Service
SRN Donation Enables Skyline NET to Store Emergency Supplies
Unloading the storage container for Skyline NET emergency supplies (Photo: R. Brake)
By Rachael Brake and Sen Speroff
Our local NET team holds periodic exercises to promote team building and practice necessary skills in the advent of a disaster. It has become apparent that the basic equipment that can be carried on the backs of team members provides a woefully inadequate amount of equipment even during a practice exercise. SRN has generously donated a 20-foot long weather-tight, rodent-proof shipping container for storage of NET equipment. This will be installed along Rock Creek Road at one of our three staging sites. This was a very generous donation, especially since the pandemic has spurred the demand for these containers and prices have exploded. Thank you, SRN.
Our three staging areas are located to serve different portions of our territory. We hope in time to have a storage container at all the staging sites. We need to have a fair amount of equipment at each site since easy travel between sites will be unlikely in a widespread disaster. We need medical equipment, rescue equipment, sanitation supplies, protection from the elements, food and water, to name a few categories. We have started accumulating medical supplies thanks to NET member Burt Lazar. He mentioned to a surgeon friend our need for medical supplies. As a result, Dr. Andy McIvor recently donated a significant amount of unused, perfectly good gloves, dressings, and wraps to our NET.
If you would like to donate money to supply this container or towards purchasing additional containers, you may do so by sending a check to “Skyline Ridge NET”, c/o 14109 NW Rock Creek Rd, Portland, OR 97231 (donation not tax-deductible). Or make a check out to “Friends of Portland & Fire & Rescue” with Skyline Ridge NET in the memo line and mail to the same address. This method provides a tax deduction for the donor although a fee is assessed and funds are not immediately available to our local NET team.
Communicating After a Disaster
During a disaster, landline and mobile phone infrastructure may be destroyed or damaged, if not they will be congested with people trying to communicate before their batteries run out. You can help reduce the demand on communication infrastructure by reducing the power you need for communicating with family and the outside world:
Don’t Be Parched - Store Water
As yet another hurricane, this one named Ida, has left a toll on a large swath of the United States, we hear again from victims about the urgent need for potable water. Disaster after disaster we hear about the need for water. This is a hugely important first step for you to do in preparation for a disaster – store a 14-day supply of water for each person and animal in your household. Plan on at least 1 gallon of water per day for each person.
Become Involved in Our NET
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 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.
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.
Our local NET team holds periodic exercises to promote team building and practice necessary skills in the advent of a disaster. It has become apparent that the basic equipment that can be carried on the backs of team members provides a woefully inadequate amount of equipment even during a practice exercise. SRN has generously donated a 20-foot long weather-tight, rodent-proof shipping container for storage of NET equipment. This will be installed along Rock Creek Road at one of our three staging sites. This was a very generous donation, especially since the pandemic has spurred the demand for these containers and prices have exploded. Thank you, SRN.
Our three staging areas are located to serve different portions of our territory. We hope in time to have a storage container at all the staging sites. We need to have a fair amount of equipment at each site since easy travel between sites will be unlikely in a widespread disaster. We need medical equipment, rescue equipment, sanitation supplies, protection from the elements, food and water, to name a few categories. We have started accumulating medical supplies thanks to NET member Burt Lazar. He mentioned to a surgeon friend our need for medical supplies. As a result, Dr. Andy McIvor recently donated a significant amount of unused, perfectly good gloves, dressings, and wraps to our NET.
If you would like to donate money to supply this container or towards purchasing additional containers, you may do so by sending a check to “Skyline Ridge NET”, c/o 14109 NW Rock Creek Rd, Portland, OR 97231 (donation not tax-deductible). Or make a check out to “Friends of Portland & Fire & Rescue” with Skyline Ridge NET in the memo line and mail to the same address. This method provides a tax deduction for the donor although a fee is assessed and funds are not immediately available to our local NET team.
Communicating After a Disaster
During a disaster, landline and mobile phone infrastructure may be destroyed or damaged, if not they will be congested with people trying to communicate before their batteries run out. You can help reduce the demand on communication infrastructure by reducing the power you need for communicating with family and the outside world:
- Text, don’t call.
- Text using SMS, not MMS. Many mobile phones have two options for texting: SMS and MMS. While SMS allows one to send short text messages only, MMS allows sending pictures, ringtones, and even short videos apart from long text messages. A typical SMS message uses about 140 bytes, while MMS uses 500,000 bytes. Thus, during a disaster, set your mobile phone setting for messages as SMS, not MMS.
- Every family should designate an out-of-area contact person. Immediately after a disaster strikes, each family member should text, not call, that contact person. Your message should be short, communicating only the essentials, i.e., where you are, your condition, and your plan. This is no time for chit-chat, text only the essentials.
Don’t Be Parched - Store Water
As yet another hurricane, this one named Ida, has left a toll on a large swath of the United States, we hear again from victims about the urgent need for potable water. Disaster after disaster we hear about the need for water. This is a hugely important first step for you to do in preparation for a disaster – store a 14-day supply of water for each person and animal in your household. Plan on at least 1 gallon of water per day for each person.
Become Involved in Our NET
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 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.
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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Forest, Farm & Garden
WMSWCD Offers Financial Incentives for Removing Invasive Weeds
As part of the Canopy Weed Program, the Forest Park Conservancy, and West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District are partnering to provide targeted treatment of canopy weeds at a low cost in your neighborhood.
The goal of this important and ongoing program is to save trees, slow the spread of invasive weeds, and protect the health of Forest Park. Forest Park is part of a much larger ecosystem that encompasses both public and private land. These lands play an important role as a wildlife corridor that connects Forest Park to the Oregon Coast Range in addition to providing critical ecosystem services – like fresh air, clean creek water, wildlife habitat, and recreational trails -- to the Portland-Metro area.
The Canopy Weed Program targets removing non-native weeds while reducing wildfire risk in Forest Park and neighborhoods adjacent to the park. The weeds targeted are English ivy (Hedera helix), Atlantic/Irish ivy (Hedera hibernica), and Old Man's Beard/Traveler's Joy (Clematis vitalba). They are aggressive European vines that can completely blanket trees and suffocate other native plants. Additionally, they pose a fire hazard as they are a hazardous, flammable fuel source in the event of a wildfire.
No matter what size your property is, residents like you can play a key role in protecting Forest Park! Removing invasive weeds improves native habitat and helps protect your property and Forest Park from the harmful threats invasive plants can pose.
The low cost fee to participate in this program is approximately $3-$5 for each tree on your property treated for canopy weeds. Fees for this program go directly towards the on-the-ground implementation of this important work. Free treatments are available if cost is a barrier to your participation. Please contact us with any questions.
To learn more, go to https://forestparkconservancy.org/canopyweeds/ or email us at canopyweeds@forestparkconservancy.org.
The goal of this important and ongoing program is to save trees, slow the spread of invasive weeds, and protect the health of Forest Park. Forest Park is part of a much larger ecosystem that encompasses both public and private land. These lands play an important role as a wildlife corridor that connects Forest Park to the Oregon Coast Range in addition to providing critical ecosystem services – like fresh air, clean creek water, wildlife habitat, and recreational trails -- to the Portland-Metro area.
The Canopy Weed Program targets removing non-native weeds while reducing wildfire risk in Forest Park and neighborhoods adjacent to the park. The weeds targeted are English ivy (Hedera helix), Atlantic/Irish ivy (Hedera hibernica), and Old Man's Beard/Traveler's Joy (Clematis vitalba). They are aggressive European vines that can completely blanket trees and suffocate other native plants. Additionally, they pose a fire hazard as they are a hazardous, flammable fuel source in the event of a wildfire.
No matter what size your property is, residents like you can play a key role in protecting Forest Park! Removing invasive weeds improves native habitat and helps protect your property and Forest Park from the harmful threats invasive plants can pose.
The low cost fee to participate in this program is approximately $3-$5 for each tree on your property treated for canopy weeds. Fees for this program go directly towards the on-the-ground implementation of this important work. Free treatments are available if cost is a barrier to your participation. Please contact us with any questions.
To learn more, go to https://forestparkconservancy.org/canopyweeds/ or email us at canopyweeds@forestparkconservancy.org.
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Public Service
Voters Will See Proposed TFV&R Bond Measure on November Ballot
By Christina Lent, TVF&R
This November, voters will have the opportunity to vote on whether Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue can issue $122 million in proposed general obligation bonds for emergency services.
If the proposed bond measure were to pass, TVF&R would use proceeds to:
Would Property Tax Rates Increase If Voters Pass the Proposed Bond Measure?
Due to declining debt on existing bonds, the proposed measure would maintain the current rate of $0.1415 per $1,000 of assessed value unless assessed property values decline. For property assessed at $300,000, about the average in TVF&R’s service area, the estimated cost of the proposed bonds would continue to be about $42.45 per year or $3.54 per month if the measure passes. Assessed value is currently between 36-38% lower than market value.
The total tax rate for TVF&R is currently $2.1167 per $1,000 of assessed value, which includes:
$1.5252 Permanent Rate
$0.45 Local Option Levy
$0.1415 General Obligation Bond
What Happens If Proposed Bond Measure 34-308 Does Not Pass?
If the proposed bond measure does not pass, the proposed safety projects, land, and equipment purchases would not be completed, and the tax rate would decrease.
For more information or to schedule a presentation, call Cassandra Ulven at 503-649-8577.
This information was reviewed by the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office for compliance with ORS 260.432. The assigned approval number is SH21-065.
This November, voters will have the opportunity to vote on whether Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue can issue $122 million in proposed general obligation bonds for emergency services.
If the proposed bond measure were to pass, TVF&R would use proceeds to:
- Replace response vehicles as they reach the end of their useable life, including fire engines, trucks, and medical vehicles used throughout the District.
- Fund fire station projects including seismic upgrades, security features, expansions, or living quarter modifications at 10 of 29 stations
- Rebuild the King City fire station at the existing location.
- Relocate the Aloha fire station to a more central location for local and regional response.
- Fund safety upgrades for TVF&R’s training center where responders practice fire suppression, emergency medical care, technical rescue, hazardous material response, and other emergency skills.
- Purchase land for future fire stations in areas where growth is expected to occur.
Would Property Tax Rates Increase If Voters Pass the Proposed Bond Measure?
Due to declining debt on existing bonds, the proposed measure would maintain the current rate of $0.1415 per $1,000 of assessed value unless assessed property values decline. For property assessed at $300,000, about the average in TVF&R’s service area, the estimated cost of the proposed bonds would continue to be about $42.45 per year or $3.54 per month if the measure passes. Assessed value is currently between 36-38% lower than market value.
The total tax rate for TVF&R is currently $2.1167 per $1,000 of assessed value, which includes:
$1.5252 Permanent Rate
$0.45 Local Option Levy
$0.1415 General Obligation Bond
What Happens If Proposed Bond Measure 34-308 Does Not Pass?
If the proposed bond measure does not pass, the proposed safety projects, land, and equipment purchases would not be completed, and the tax rate would decrease.
For more information or to schedule a presentation, call Cassandra Ulven at 503-649-8577.
This information was reviewed by the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office for compliance with ORS 260.432. The assigned approval number is SH21-065.
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Skyline Grange News
Skyline Grange Receives Grant for Building Improvements
By Sen Speroff
What is Being Cancelled
We had high hopes for the fall, but the pandemic had other ideas. For safety’s sake, we have canceled the Fall Garage Sale, Community Soup Supper and the Artisans Holiday Fair for the second year in a row.
What is Happening
Outdoor Yoga will continue until the fall rains, then Yoga classes will only be offered online. As soon as it is safe enough, classes will be held in person with strict precautions. For more details and to register for classes, visit www.yogainalignment.com.
Capital Improvement Planning
Our Capital Improvement Committee (CIC) has been busy. It is planning several major projects. For years drainage has been a problem along the front wall of the building. To fully remedy this problem will require replacing this porous wall, installing a new north stairwell, and installing a drain along the front tying into existing drain pipes. While we are at it, the front door will be replaced with one that opens outward to meet codes, and we will do the preliminary work for building a future front porch.
Again, “for years,” the community has asked for a restroom on the main floor. We also need a second exit from the main floor that meets codes. Solutions have been challenging since we did not want to decrease the working space in the main hall. CIC concluded that the most viable way to accomplish this is to add a small addition to the south side of the building. This addition would house an ADA restroom on the main floor, improve the safety of the south stairwell, and add storage space.
Testifying Before the Legislature
Days after this conclusion, our Oregon Representative Brad Witt contacted us and inquired if the Grange had a project consistent with the criteria for money from the American Rescue Plan Act. An idea was promptly sent to Representative Witt for consideration. Several days later, we were one of eighty-two groups to testify before the Oregon Ways and Means Committee via Zoom, emphasizing that this project addresses both safety and accessibility in our two-minute testimony window. Then in the spring, we learned our little Grange project was in the final Bill, and one Sunday morning, we got a call that the Bill was going into effect.
The money is not in the bank yet, and we haven’t seen the small print yet. Still, it looks as though we will get federal money that will provide a sound funding basis for a restroom and a second exit. Thank you, Rep. Witt, for recognizing our Grange as an important Skyline community asset.
We are working intensely on final plans, hiring consultants and discovering all the other conditions the State and Multnomah County require to make these changes, such as 25% of the building cost needs to be earmarked for ADA improvements. We may have to make some earthquake-resistant improvements.
We see our Hall as a community gathering place, and these changes should make it more accessible and safer for all. We have lost nearly two years of our usual fundraising during the pandemic. All these needed improvements will cost a lot. It is our hope that these changes will be supported by our community members.
Grange Artisans
Although the Artisans have decided not to hold their in-person Holiday Fair at the Grange this year due to safety concerns, they still offer their creations to anyone looking for a special handmade gift. Details and contact information for the individual artisans will be posted soon on the Grange website (https://skylinegrange894.org/artisans/) so you may contact them directly. Watch as well for coming announcements in the Newsline.
Join Skyline Grange
Grange is a non-partisan, non-sectarian, non-profit, and totally volunteer-driven organization. We are a diverse group of people who believe 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.
You can contact the Grange at SkylineGrange894@msn.com and for rental inquiries for dates starting October 1 at skylinegrange894@gmail.com. Skyline Grange is located at 11275 NW Skyline Boulevard. Our website is www.skylinegrange894.org. and our Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/Skyline-Grange-894-169559023662398/
What is Being Cancelled
We had high hopes for the fall, but the pandemic had other ideas. For safety’s sake, we have canceled the Fall Garage Sale, Community Soup Supper and the Artisans Holiday Fair for the second year in a row.
What is Happening
Outdoor Yoga will continue until the fall rains, then Yoga classes will only be offered online. As soon as it is safe enough, classes will be held in person with strict precautions. For more details and to register for classes, visit www.yogainalignment.com.
Capital Improvement Planning
Our Capital Improvement Committee (CIC) has been busy. It is planning several major projects. For years drainage has been a problem along the front wall of the building. To fully remedy this problem will require replacing this porous wall, installing a new north stairwell, and installing a drain along the front tying into existing drain pipes. While we are at it, the front door will be replaced with one that opens outward to meet codes, and we will do the preliminary work for building a future front porch.
Again, “for years,” the community has asked for a restroom on the main floor. We also need a second exit from the main floor that meets codes. Solutions have been challenging since we did not want to decrease the working space in the main hall. CIC concluded that the most viable way to accomplish this is to add a small addition to the south side of the building. This addition would house an ADA restroom on the main floor, improve the safety of the south stairwell, and add storage space.
Testifying Before the Legislature
Days after this conclusion, our Oregon Representative Brad Witt contacted us and inquired if the Grange had a project consistent with the criteria for money from the American Rescue Plan Act. An idea was promptly sent to Representative Witt for consideration. Several days later, we were one of eighty-two groups to testify before the Oregon Ways and Means Committee via Zoom, emphasizing that this project addresses both safety and accessibility in our two-minute testimony window. Then in the spring, we learned our little Grange project was in the final Bill, and one Sunday morning, we got a call that the Bill was going into effect.
The money is not in the bank yet, and we haven’t seen the small print yet. Still, it looks as though we will get federal money that will provide a sound funding basis for a restroom and a second exit. Thank you, Rep. Witt, for recognizing our Grange as an important Skyline community asset.
We are working intensely on final plans, hiring consultants and discovering all the other conditions the State and Multnomah County require to make these changes, such as 25% of the building cost needs to be earmarked for ADA improvements. We may have to make some earthquake-resistant improvements.
We see our Hall as a community gathering place, and these changes should make it more accessible and safer for all. We have lost nearly two years of our usual fundraising during the pandemic. All these needed improvements will cost a lot. It is our hope that these changes will be supported by our community members.
Grange Artisans
Although the Artisans have decided not to hold their in-person Holiday Fair at the Grange this year due to safety concerns, they still offer their creations to anyone looking for a special handmade gift. Details and contact information for the individual artisans will be posted soon on the Grange website (https://skylinegrange894.org/artisans/) so you may contact them directly. Watch as well for coming announcements in the Newsline.
Join Skyline Grange
Grange is a non-partisan, non-sectarian, non-profit, and totally volunteer-driven organization. We are a diverse group of people who believe 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.
You can contact the Grange at SkylineGrange894@msn.com and for rental inquiries for dates starting October 1 at skylinegrange894@gmail.com. Skyline Grange is located at 11275 NW Skyline Boulevard. Our website is www.skylinegrange894.org. and our Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/Skyline-Grange-894-169559023662398/
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.
Bird Watercolor Painting for Beginners. Every Tuesday for ALL AGES, 4:00-5:30pm (Portland, OR time). Learn how to paint birds in watercolor, step by step instruction with Ronna Fujisawa. $15/ class or $50/ 4 classes. Register online www.saltywaterart.com or email: ronnafujisawa@me.com. Bamboo Fencing for sale: Approx. 75 linear feet of 6 ft tall bamboo fencing. mostly in rolls 5 ft wide with some shorter sections. Bamboo avg. diameter 1”, secured with sturdy wire. Painted dark green on one side. Make me an offer. Miles, 971-285-6960. |
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.). Rent the Skyline Grange. Reservations are tentatively accepted for dates after mid-October. Rental details at www.skylinegrange894.org. |
Community Calendar
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Oct. 11, 7:30 PM: Skyline Grange monthly meeting. All are welcome to attend, regardless of Grange membership. For more info, email SkylineGrange894@msn.com.
Oct. 12, 6:30 PM: SRN Board online meeting via Zoom. All are welcome to attend. Contact Emily Bennett (ebemilybennett@gmail.com) to get the link. Nov. 8, 7:30 PM: Skyline Grange monthly meeting. All are welcome to attend, regardless of Grange membership. For more info, email SkylineGrange894@msn.com. |
Nov. 9, 6:30 PM: SRN Board online meeting via Zoom. All are welcome to attend. Contact Emily Bennett (ebemilybennett@gmail.com) to get the link.
Dec. 13, 7:30 PM: Skyline Grange monthly meeting. All are welcome to attend, regardless of Grange membership. For more info, email SkylineGrange894@msn.com. Dec. 14, 6:30 PM: SRN Board online meeting via Zoom. All are welcome to attend. Contact Emily Bennett (ebemilybennett@gmail.com) to get the link. |
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Thanks for Your Donations!
Many thanks to the following neighbors and friends who recently made cash donations to SRN:
~ Lawrence Zivin
~ Terry & Sandra Hart
~ James & Carol Cure
~ Kristin Rader
~ Karl Winkler
~ Roger & Karen Cummings
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.
Many thanks to the following neighbors and friends who recently made cash donations to SRN:
~ Lawrence Zivin
~ Terry & Sandra Hart
~ James & Carol Cure
~ Kristin Rader
~ Karl Winkler
~ Roger & Karen Cummings
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.
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: George Sowder, Suzanne Perra, Nicole Sanchez, Amy Frances Goldstein, Vicky Coghill, Rachael Brake, Sen Speroff, Renee Magyar, 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 December 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: George Sowder, Suzanne Perra, Nicole Sanchez, Amy Frances Goldstein, Vicky Coghill, Rachael Brake, Sen Speroff, Renee Magyar, 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 December 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.