Community News March 2021

March 6, 2021   Community, Diversity of Cedar Mill, Education
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SAMBA Cans and Bottles Drive

Saturday March 13, 10 am-1 pm, the old Bales Thriftway parking lot, 12847 NW Cornell Rd.

We are going back to curb drop off! If you have more bags than will fit in your car please email us at samba@sambanote.org. Also, please wear your mask when dropping off your bags.

The Sunset Apollo Marching Band & Auxiliary (SAMBA) Parent Club, is a 501(c)(3) organization. SAMBA supports all of the Comprehensive Band and Color Guard Programs available at Sunset High School. SAMBA raises funds throughout the year to pay for travel expenses, entry fees, uniforms, specialized performance instruction, show design, instrument purchase and repair, purchase of new music and arrangements, and scholarships for students who otherwise would be unable to afford to participate.

Tell your story through art!

OSU is sponsoring a Youth Art Show and accepting art submissions now through March 26 for youth 9-19 years old living in Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas counties.

This show is free and accepting all art media including digital, visual, and music. Our theme is ‘Healing Through Art.” Your art will be shared with our community on the OSU Portland Center website. You can submit up to two artworks. 

Your art will be evaluated by artists from the OSU Art Department. Three high school students will be selected to earn a scholarship to attend JumpstART 2021, a course that provides participants ages 14-18 with a week of accelerated instruction from the safety of their home. Our faculty is comprised of successful, working artists, who exhibit their work throughout the U.S. and beyond. Each day will include instruction, discussion, video links, time to make art, and time to ask questions and receive feedback.

To participate, you must complete the form on the website and sign an OSU Media Release. Art that violates our Zero Tolerance policy will not be accepted. Deadline to submit is March 26, 2021.

Your artist statement can be a video or a written statement that describes your work, design process, or inspiration. This is your opportunity to tell your story. Get creative! Timelapse videos or reels are two examples of video artist statements.

If you need access to equipment to take pictures or record your art, please email us at kristen.moore@oregonstate.edu to schedule an appointment. Click here for more details and to submit your art.

Cedar Hills Ready

“What Goes into Your Go Bag?”

Wednesday, March 17, 7 pm, via zoom, free
grab and go pack

Are you prepared for the next disaster? Do you have supplies ready? Unfortunately, we are seeing an increase in disasters that require fast evacuation or sheltering in place. For example, the September 2020 fires in Oregon required many of our friends and family to evacuate in with no time to spare. Some barely escaped with their lives. What did you learn in the four-day ice storm this February? 

Let’s get disaster ready with our friends and neighbors and have fun doing it. The mission of Cedar Hills Ready! is to create caring, connected and resilient neighborhoods. We are committed to making sure every neighbor is prepared and has the best chance of survival in the event of a disaster. We’ll talk about under-bed kits, car/work/school packs (for one to two days), go bags (for five days to two weeks), and home emergency supplies storage (for three weeks minimum). We will do scenario-based sharing with neighbors, so come ready with your ideas, tips, and tricks. 

Register in advance and for more information, contact Karen at info.cedarhillsready@gmail.com. 

Silicon Forest Toastmasters

Wednesdays, 12-1 pm, via Zoom, free

The Silicon Forest Toastmasters Club is now meeting virtually and is dedicated to helping you build your public speaking, online presentation, and leadership skills. We are recognized as a Distinguished Club by Toastmasters International and recently celebrated our 25th Anniversary! 

Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders through a network of 16,400 clubs and exceeds 352,000 members in 141 countries.

You are invited to visit any club meeting. Guests are always welcome to attend with no commitment. Come see how Toastmasters can help you become a more confident speaker, presenter, and leader!

For questions and a Zoom link to our next meeting, contact:

Eric Winger at ericwinger0@gmail.com or by phone at 503-516-6271.

acma fundraiser

ACMA Fundraiser

Thursday, March 11, 10:30 am-10 pm, MOD Pizza, 2695 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., Suite 190

Please help support Arts & Communications Magnet Academy’s PTO! The fundraiser code is GR163909A.

Summer Program Expo 

Wednesday, April 14, 7-8 pm, free

Washington County Kids is holding a free opportunity for parents/guardians to connect with summer program providers. Learn more and sign up here.

WCK offers free presentations to provide information, tips, and tools for K-8 parents/guardians

Tuesdays, March 30-April 27, 6-7 pm, online

Thanks to teachers Helene Cuomo and Christina Matousek, and our partners at Sequoia Mental Health Services for making this series possible!

Each one-hour session begins with an informative and informal presentation by our professional speakers and allows adequate time for participants to ask questions.

Sessions are provided at no cost to registered participants. Session recordings will be available. Register for one or all of the following sessions by clicking on the session title. (Puedes solicitar servicios de interpretación en español en el formulario de registro de Eventbrite).

March 30: How to Support Anxious or Depressed Kids: What Therapists Want You to Know: Travis Pilarcik, Sequoia Mental Health Services

April 6: Simple STEM Activities to do at Home: Helene Cuomo, STEM TOSA (Teacher On Special Assignment), Quatama/Tobias Elementary Schools

April 13: Positive Discussions when Dealing with Differences: Taking A Closer Look at Identity Factors That Impact Kids & the Family: Jocelyn Chavez, Sequoia Mental Health Services

April 20: How to help kids with homework (without doing it yourself): Christina Matousek, parent, and former teacher

April 27: Balancing Work, Life, and All the Rest: Jessie Ricker, Sequoia Mental Health Services

Washington County Board of Commissioners host town hall

Saturday, March 6, 11 am-12:30 pm, via Zoom

Washington County Board of Commissioners invites the public to participate in a virtual town hall. Board members will provide updates on their 2021 priorities and then take questions from community members. All are welcome.

To RSVP and obtain meeting access information, please visit the Eventbrite Registration Page. 

The town hall will also be live-streamed on the County’s YouTube channel with no pre-registration required.

Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be provided for this event. To request a language other than Spanish or English, please indicate your language preference with the RSVP or contact the County Administrative Office via email at CAO@co.washington.or.us or by phone at 503-846-8685, no later than March 1. 

To read this message in Spanish, visit co.washington.or.us/BOC/board-of-commissioners-town-hall-march-2021.cfm.

New PGE outage map

Portland General Electric (PGE) launched a new map on its website for customers to get more information on estimated restoration times. PGE is also updating the website regularly with details on work underway in their communities each day and answers to frequently asked questions. 

The series of historic and devastating storms that hit our communities brought three waves of snow, ice, and wind, and resulted in catastrophic damage to PGE’s system. PGE has restored power to nearly 622,000 customers since the start of the storm, although approximately 60,000 customers remain without power. As PGE works 24/7 to restore power, we continue to see saturated trees and limbs inflict additional damage to transmission lines, substations, feeders and distribution lines–all required to work together to deliver power to the approximately 900,000 homes and businesses we serve.

State Senator hosts virtual town hall

Thursday, March 25, 5:30-6:30 pm, via Zoom

Join Senator Elizabeth Steiner-Hayward for a virtual town hall discussing the 2021 session. Town halls are a way for people interested in her work, especially those who live in Senate District 17, to stay connected during these strange times, and to ask questions about what they’re working on in the legislature.

Registration is required to attend the town hall; you can register online.

Inside WashCo Radio

inside washco logo

Inside Washington County with Rob Solomon will be back on the air and the website with new shows in March. The show will be on KBOO the first, second and fourth Wednesday of the month, KUIK every Friday at 1:30pm (encore programs on the third Friday). Programs are released to subscribers and placed on the website each week on Mondays.

Watch for us on Facebook & Twitter, we’ll let you know what’s coming up.

ShakeAlert App coming in March

The ShakeAlert® Earthquake Early Warning system is a network of sensors that collects and shares real-time information about the magnitude, location and expected shaking from earthquakes on the West Coast to distribution partners who then deliver alerts via cell phones and the internet. Partners can also initiate automatic protective actions such as stopping trains to prevent derailments and closing water valves to protect infrastructure. 

Starting March 11, 2021, ShakeAlert®-powered earthquake early warning alerts will be available for delivery directly to wireless devices in Oregon. For more information, go here.

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Cedar Mill Farmers Market

March is a time to continue to offer sponsorship opportunities to our neighborhood businesses, recruit new vendors to participate in our market, and start people thinking about volunteering! The market needs volunteers to help make the market happen. Please consider volunteering. We need you!

We love to have monthly volunteers, every other week volunteers, and weekly volunteers. There is a variety of assistance needed to “pull off” a 25-week farmer’s market. Here are some examples of volunteer roles: greeters, info booth helpers, set-up/tear-down helpers, website assistance, Power of Produce creative person (kids’ program), advertising assistance, photographer/video person, and so much more! There really is something for everyone! Please contact us if you are interested in helping us make the market happen! Email us at ourcmfm@gmail.com. 

If you are a potential vendor, apply here. 

Consider being a sponsor: email us at ourcmfm@gmail.com. 

Opening day is May 1st!

Project Lotus hosts college mental health webinars

Project Lotus is a nonprofit dedicated to ending the stigma around mental health in the Asian American community. Partnering with Let’s Talk, a Harvard affiliate, in November the youth-led organization presented webinars with panels of college students to talk about mental health and wellbeing relating to college. Part one was about college applications, and part two covered mental health while attending college. The organization has 27 team members, many of whom are from Cedar Mill. 

Project Lotus organized the webinars to emphasize the importance of maintaining mental wellbeing throughout the college application process and college, aiming to provide a unique perspective and tips to the Asian American community. Over 900 Asian Americans from all over the country signed up, ranging from high school students to concerned parents, and over 300 attended the first webinar. Many of the attendees thanked Project Lotus and Let’s Talk for hosting the webinar, pointing to the need for mental health education within the Asian American community. With the success of the two webinars, Project Lotus hopes to continue as a source of relevant information targeted at Asian Americans through hosting future webinars and programs.

For more information about the organization, contact info@contactprojectlotus.org. Mental health resources can be found on their website.

Beaverton Author Fair

Beaverton City Library will host our Seventh Annual Local Author Fair in 2021! Typically held in May, this event is moving to fall 2021 with the intention of hosting an in-person event. The Local Author Fair is a free book fair highlighting the work of talented authors in the tri-county area. Writers from Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas counties are invited to apply for a space to share and promote their latest work, including all genres like adult, young adult and children’s literature. Participating authors will receive their own table where they are welcome to discuss and sell their books, keeping all proceeds for themselves.

In return for their involvement in the fair, the library typically requests that each author donate two books. One book will be raffled off to attendees of the event and one book may be added to the library’s collection. Donated books not added to the collection will be sold by the Friends of the Library to support library programs and services. Although donations are not guaranteed placement into the library’s collection, they are sincerely appreciated and will otherwise be put to good use.

If you are a local author with an interest in promoting your latest work at the Local Author Fair this year, please check the library website for updates. Don’t miss out on this exciting chance to share your creativity and accomplishments with those around you!

For additional information regarding Beaverton City Library, visit the Beaverton Library website or call 503-644-2197.

WashCo Forum

Founded in 1956, the Forum provides a place for the interchange of ideas on civic matters. Each week the Forum brings together community leaders, members, and guests who care about what happens in Washington County, the Metro region, and our state. As we all continue to do what we can to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Forum will continue with its 2020-21 season online, providing another engaging month of speakers. You can obtain the zoom link to join these free events by visiting the Forum website.

Here are the exciting Forum topics for March:

International Women’s Day

Monday, March 8, 12-1pm

A culturally and professionally diverse group of women panelists will speak on their backgrounds and roles in this moment of history.

Who Is Getting the Vaccine and Why: Affected Communities

Monday, March 15, 12-1pm

A panel comprised of those from disproportionately affected groups, as well as a representative on behalf of educators, will speak on the advocacy taking place in front of and behind the scenes over vaccine prioritization.

Redistricting in Oregon 

Monday, March 22, 12-1pm

Secretary of State Shemia Fagan will discuss the process of redistricting, a key duty of Oregon’s legislature every ten years, and this year’s implications given the delayed Census data.

Oregon’s Christmas Tree Industry

Monday, March 29, 12-1pm

Dan Logan, Christmas Tree Farmer and former Washington County Farm Bureau President, will discuss how Oregon leads the nation in Christmas tree production and recent opportunities and challenges to this market.

Washington County DAVS offers support programs

Washington County’s office of Disability, Aging, and Veteran Services (DAVS) provides many services to these populations. Here are some highlights this month.

Gentle Conversations for isolated adults:

Are you caring for a loved one who is experiencing isolation because of the pandemic? Washington County is offering Gentle Conversations, a project designed to support family caregivers who are caring for a loved one at home. Your loved one will receive a friendly weekly call from a volunteer who is trained in guiding conversations, validating responses, and creative engagement. This project is dementia-friendly and works with individuals experiencing memory loss who are still able to talk over the phone. These joyful expressions are written down and sent to you by email or card to have for future use. If interested please contact Shannon at 503-846-3090 or shannon_baggerman@co.washington.or.us.

Technology:

If you’re over the age of 60 and need a computer, tablet, phone, or internet services to stay in touch with family and friends, or need that connectivity for virtual medical appointments or community center programming, DAVS can help. Call the ADRC in Washington County at 503-846-3060 for more information and stay connected!

Transportation:

Need transportation to a medical appointment or just need a ride to the grocery store? Call TriMet Lift at 503-692-8000 or Ride Connection at 503-226-0700 to schedule your door-to-door ride. For more information, call the ADRC at 503-846-3060.

Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for Advisory Committee

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for community members to serve on the Enhanced Sheriff’s Patrol District (ESPD) Advisory Committee. The Committee works with the Sheriff and other officials from the Sheriff’s Office to review and offer recommendations regarding the level and type of police service in ESPD. The Committee advises the Sheriff on strategic goals and direction for the law enforcement district. Future considerations of the Committee will be to review other long-range opportunities for enhanced law enforcement and community collaboration.

ESPD provides enhanced patrol response to over 200,000 residents in the urban areas outside of cities in Washington County, including Bethany, Cedar Mill, Cedar Hills, Aloha, Reedville, Garden Home, Metzger, Rock Creek, Raleigh Hills, Bull Mountain, Bonny Slope, West Slope, Oak Hills, and more. There are 130 Sheriff’s Deputies serving the community members in the district. The Sheriff’s Office has been nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) continuously since 2004.

Committee members serve a three-year term. Applicants must pass a criminal background check and shall be residents or business owners of the Enhanced Sheriff’s Patrol District. Applications can be obtained online at the website, in person at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Executive Administration Office, by phone (contacting Lori Larson at 503-846-2694), or by e-mail at Lori_Larson@co.washington.or.us. The deadline to submit your application is March 31, 2021.

skyline memorial old wooden cross

Skyline Memorial Garden’s Easter Service

Sunday, April 4, 6:15 am, Skyline Memorial Garden Funeral Home, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd

Please join Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home for this community event! They are hosting an outdoor Easter service to celebrate the joy and blessings of Easter. This event is COVID-19 compliant: social distancing will be enforced, and to prevent COVID-19 exposure, there will be no refreshments afterwards. The Easter service is not affiliated with governmental agencies, Veteran’s offices, or other organizations.

BSD Community-Wide Conversations About Race

Wednesday, March 10, 4-6:30 pm, Zoom. Registration required

The Beaverton School District and Southridge High School are hosting the second annual Community-Wide Conversation Around Race. This virtual event will begin with a welcome from BSD students, followed by two sessions of breakout presentations hosted by community partners, BSD staff, Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty, City of Beaverton staff, volunteers, and BSD students.  We’ll be offering more than 35 sessions, covering different aspects of race, equity and social justice.  The keynote address will be a roundtable conversation between high school students from across the district.  

The goal of this event is to bring community partners, parents, staff and students together to participate in thoughtful conversations that build individual racial literacy and elevate students’ experiences.  

You can find information and register for the Community-wide Conversation Around Race at the BSD website.

State Rep. Dexter Virtual Coffee Conversations

Saturday, March 6, 9 am 

Rep. Maxine Dexter is hosting a virtual coffee conversation in March! Residents, especially those in HD 33, can bring their concerns and questions to Rep. Dexter. She will be covering her future policies, political stances, and legislature. A video recording of this session will be posted to Rep. Dexter’s Facebook and YouTube. Please register on Rep. Dexter’s page for the Zoom link!

WCSO Kids Safety Academy

March 22-26, 9:45-11 am, via zoom

All Washington County students from grades 4-6 are invited to join the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for Kids Safety Academy, a fun virtual event. We will be covering a variety of safety topics, such as Fire, Internet, Pedestrian, Water safety and much more. Featuring team visits from K9, Marine, Forensics, Robot, Motor, and TVF&R, among others. There is limited space and online registration is required. For more information, please contact Patricia_Schilasky@co.washington.or.us.

Civics for Adults

We provide workshops to enhance civic knowledge and inspire political engagement. Learn more and sign up for our newsletter on our webpage.

What Is Democracy and Why Does It Matter?

Open to all. These are the last two sessions of a three-part series featuring thought-provoking presentations and discussions on democracy. 

Democracy and Our Federal Government 

Wednesday, March 10, 6-7:30 pm, online

We’ll learn what democracy meant to our country’s founders, and deliberate whether our federal government structure reflects their, as well as our, values. 

Measuring Success in a Democracy 

Wednesday, March 17, 6-7:30 pm, online 

We’ll review how we measure our progress as a democracy. Presentations are by Donna Cohen and co-discussion facilitation is with Sheila Panyam. Please register at this link!

Voting Rights, Voter Fraud, Voter Suppression and Election 2020

Thursday, April 7, 6:30-8:00 pm, online

This workshop focuses on voting rights, voter suppression and then traces the events of Election 2020 (up to January 6). It is a powerful presentation which includes a great deal of data and commentary from bipartisan sources. Please register at this link!

Misinformation, Fake News and Political Propaganda

misinformation infographic
Monday, March 22, 4-5:30 pm, online, sponsored by Oregon City Public Library

Are you overwhelmed with messages from politicians, news sources and other media? Distinguish truth from fiction using real-world examples. Become your own “factchecker”! You will also learn how to find accurate information. Please register at this link!

Citizen Activism 101—Making Change Happen

Monday, April 5, 4-5:30 pm, online, sponsored by Oregon City Public Library

Learn about types of advocacy and strategies for change. Topics include: brief historical perspectives, examples of successful advocacy (local and national), choosing your battles, who makes the rules, getting heard, tools for change, and “tracking” state and federal legislation. Please register at this link!

Viva Village Events March 2021

Please come participate in Viva Village’s February events! For Zoom links, please RSVP by calling 503-746-5082 or emailing vivavillageevents@gmail.com. More information regarding these events can be found at the Viva Village calendar page!

Open to the General Public:

Online Viva Village 101
Saturday, March 13, 10-11:30 am

A fun and informative session about Village life for prospective members and/or volunteers. RSVP for the Zoom Link.

Online Age Cafe
Fridays, March 5 and 19, 11 am-12 pm

Small group conversations exploring topics of interest to older adults. Sponsored by Viva Village, Beaverton City Library, and Wash. Co. DAVS. Contact Viva Village for registration information.

Online Viva Village Book Club
Tuesday, March 23, 1-2:30 pm

Selected book: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. RSVP for the Zoom Link

Online Men’s Coffee Break
Monday, March 22, 10-11 am. Conversation and coffee. RSVP for the Zoom Link

Open to Viva Village members and volunteers only:

Online Total Body Workout 
Wednesday, March 3 and 17, 2:30-4 pm

Aerobic workout led by certified instructor, Richard Chew. RSVP for the Zoom Link

Online Mindfulness Course 
Mondays, March 1, 8 (final two sessions), 1-2 pm.

Introductory techniques in meaningful meditation. RSVP for the Zoom Link

Online Women’s Coffee 
Tuesdays, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 10:10 am

RSVP for the Zoom Link

Zoom Art Experience 
Wednesday, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 12:45 pm

Participate in a virtual art experience with Village member and artist, Jeanne Cory. RSVP for the Zoom Link

Online Writers’ Group 
Thursdays, March 4, 11, 18, 25, 1 pm

Join other Village writers for a time of sharing and inspiration. RSVP for the Zoom Link

Viva Village Nature Walk 
Saturday, March 6, 9:30 am, Commonwealth Lake

A (masked and distanced) morning walk with Viva Village members and volunteers

Online Travel Talk: Visit to Myanmar 
Monday, March 8, 7-8:30 pm

Viva Village Volunteer Cathy Alisch shares slides and stories about her trip to Myanmar. RSVP for the Zoom Link

Online Tai Chi Classes 
Thursdays, March 11 and 25, 10-11:30 am

Learn Tai Chi technique with certified instructor, Richard Chew. RSVP for the Zoom Link

Online Movie Club–organizational meeting 
Monday, March 15, 1 pm

Planning meeting about creating a Viva Village interest group for viewing and discussing interesting movies. RSVP for the Zoom Link

Online St. Patrick’s Day Party 
Saturday, March 20, 4–5:30 pm

Enjoy Shamrock Bingo and lively conversation with other Viva Village members and volunteers. RSVP for the Zoom Link

Online Volunteer Happy Hour 
Friday, March 26, 1 pm

RSVP for the Zoom Link

Take Action to Prevent Fall Injuries 

Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue has these helpful tips. As people grow older, the consequences of a fall grow more serious. Unintentional falls are the leading cause of injury deaths for adults ages 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries and account for more than 95 percent of hip fractures. In addition, fractures from falls are a leading cause of disability and often result in entering a nursing home. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched to 6,267 reports of falls in 2020. 

 “Most falls happen in the home and can be avoided. Factors such as poor lighting, narrow stairs, and slippery surfaces can increase the chances of a fall. In addition, problems with glare, depth perception, tiredness, or dizziness from prescription medications contribute to falls” said Public Affairs Chief Cassandra Ulven with TVF&R.

Research conducted by Yale University showed that older adults are also most at risk of falling when they fail to use handrails on stairs, reach for objects overhead, and climb on chairs or ladders. TVF&R reminds seniors and children of older adults to take the following precautions to help prevent a fall injury: 

Take Care of Yourself 

Get regular medical check-ups and talk to your doctor to ensure appropriate levels and types of medication. Have your vision checked and replace eyeglasses as needed. Have your healthcare provider also check your feet to ensure you can walk comfortably. Exercise regularly to improve your balance and strength and eat nutritious meals to fuel your body. 

Remove Existing Hazards 

Fasten throw rugs to the floor with double-backed tape to keep them from slipping or remove them all together. Keep cords out of pathways and clean up spills as soon as they happen. Also, arrange furniture to minimize obstructions, and clear clutter from your living areas. Fix loose or uneven steps. Make sure carpet is firmly attached to every step or remove the carpet and attach non-slip rubber treads to the stairs. In the kitchen, keep items you use often in cabinets you can reach easily without using a step stool. 

Add Protection 

Wear well-fitting shoes with good support and non-skid soles. Turn on lights when walking through dark rooms or hallways. Use nightlights in all rooms. Install grab bars in the bathtub, shower, and toilet areas, and add handrails on stairwells. Place phones in multiple rooms or keep a cellphone with you in case you need to call for emergency assistance. 

For more life safety information, visit www.tvfr.com.